The Psoas Book is a comprehensive guide to the iliopsoas muscle, and its profound influence on the body/mind/emotions. Easy to read The Psoas Book covers information gathered about the core muscle of the human body called the psoas (so-as), and is essential reading for anyone interested in health, wellness, and movement.

The Psoas Book provides a great resource for the layperson offering self-help understanding, and simple ideas for eliminating low back, knee, pelvic, and hip tension. For the professional it is a one-of-a-kind educational resource, and is required reading at University Dance & Movement Programs, Massage Schools, Yoga Educational Trainings and Pilates & Fitness Continuing Education. Purchased for over 28 years by laypersons and professionals alike, The Psoas Book is a must read for anyone interested in health, healing, movement, bodywork, massage, fitness, dance, yoga, Pilates, sports, martial arts, somatics, psychology, voice, nursing, plus pregnancy & birth.

Chapters include:

1. Location
2. Function
3. Effects
4. Childhood Conditioning
5. Women's Cycles
6. The Fear Reflex
7. Releasing The Psoas
8. Approaches to the Psoas
9. Applications

Average Customer Review: ( 19 customer reviews )
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As a professional bodyworker and movement educator for over 25 years, I've met many people - clients, chiropractors, physical therapists, dancers, practitioners of yoga and other somatic therapists - who recognize the importance of the psoas muscle for optimal postural alignment, back health, and over-all well-being. Very few of them, however, can explain the significant and complex relationships that the psoas has with other muscle groups, with our internal organs, and with our emotional experience. And even fewer know how to adequately release their own psoas tension, to fascilitate optimal psoas tone, or to teach others these essential skills.

Liz Koch has spent over 20 years exploring this muscle and its influence, and she generously shares her extraordinary discoveries with us in her book. There are many drawings that help to clarify the text, which not only covers the basics, like location and function of the psoas, but extends into self-care exercises and application of these ideas to everyday considerations, like what kind of shoes or chairs or sports can support psoas health. There's also an entire section addressing the role of the psoas in women's cycles, pregnancy and menopause.

This book is a revelation! I recommend it to anyone who is searching for the keys to self-awareness and more vibrant health.

43 of 45 found the following review helpful:

Right on the mark!Feb 18, 2003

This book places a plethora of information around a very specific subject right at your fingertips. I have discovered much information that I can use on my own body as I move to eliminate low back pain. As a mother I found it very informative in regards to allowing children to develop at their own pace; why not to put them in exersaucers, etc from the perspective of the psoas muscle. It is definitely something else to consider if you are experiencing low back pain, menstrual cramps, infertility, etc. Releasing the psoas will not be a cure-all for every body, but this book provides some interesting food for thought! I plan to use a lot of the information on fear and the psoas with my prenatal yoga classes as an extra tool for helping expectant parents with labor and childbirth. Admittedly an editor could address the spelling errors, etc. but the content is valuable and thought-provoking if you can simply release projecting perfectionism onto the author and appreciate her hard work, 20+ years of experience with and passion for this very important muscle!

43 of 47 found the following review helpful:

This book is fantastic!Jul 27, 2002
By Ellie O'Donnell
Liz Koch's book is jam-packed with information on an often overlooked but very important muscle. The book was recommended to me by a Rolfer, and I was amazed at how much more there is to our bodies and their functioning than what we know. Liz Koch explains in easy-to-understand language how the psoas encompasses all aspects of our lives. This book is great for anyone with a lumbar lordosis (overarched lower back). I've been doing the exercises in the book for several months and have noticed an improvement in my posture and movement. I highly recommend "The Psoas Book!!"

24 of 27 found the following review helpful:

Pretty awfulJun 11, 2008
By An Amazonian
This 83-page booklet relies liberally on long quotations (Ida Rolf, Moshe Feldenkrais, and Wilhelm Reich are some of the usual suspects quoted). All the author seems to have really done is to gather together information from others.

Physically, the book is a very primitive desktop publication. Particularly galling are some stick-figure "illustrations" that look like they were done in Paint in the late '80s.

I can't recommend this book to anyone.

19 of 22 found the following review helpful:

Doesn't quite make itOct 28, 2007
By Susan Alexander
I found this book frustrating, primarily because I think Ms. Koch probably has a lot to offer, but this book does a poor job of conveying it. I found the text and illustrations confusing and poorly edited.

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