Pain or tension on the sides of the hips is a signal from the body that we're using our muscles to force stability because we’re not feeling that way emotionally, mentally or physically.
It can manifest as:
clicking in the hips
tension in the front of the hips (hip flexors)
low back pain
discomfort when standing for long periods of time
something feeling off in your gait (the way you walk)
feeling like your hip is jammed
knee discomfort
neck pain
jaw tension
The hips are in the center of the body for most of us depending on how long our torso is. The space where our top half meets our bottom half will bring imbalances from above and below and if the stacking of bones is off, a lot can happen.
ENERGETICS
We have the chakra system and Reiki theory to give us a more focused look at what our body may be trying to tell us. Chakras are energetic centers in the body and Reiki works with this system to restore balance. By combining these frameworks, we're able to get more information from the signals our body gives us.
The first chakra (muladhara) is at the base of the spine where the pelvic floor is and connects to stability, safety, security and finances.
The second chakra (svadhistana) is above that and below the belly button and connects to creativity, emotions and sexual energy.
The Reiki principles of right side and left side manifestations can give us even more to go off of. Right side of the body is connected to masculine energy and left side is connected to feminine energy.
Masculine Energy:
Active
Aggressive
Yang
Forward moving
Anger
Feminine Energy:
Passive
Intuitive
Yin
Receptive
Sadness
When I'm working with a client and I feel like something is stuck/tense/held in their sacrum (the back of the pelvis) on the right side, I might ask if there's something that's making them angry/upset around stability, home, safety or finances or if a relationship with a man or a person with masculine energy feels off/unstable.
If the front of their left hip is tense, I'll ask if something is bothering them around not being able to depend on others or if there's a relationship with a woman that doesn't feel balanced or if their relationship with their own femininity feels disconnected or hard to connect to.
When you’re thinking about your own body and what you may be holding, see what response you have to this information and explore with curiosity from there. I find it helpful to take a breath through my belly to focus my awareness when I’m feeling tense or distracted. The next newsletter will have a guided meditation that will help you get in a space of curious calm to ask your body these questions and trust the answers.
I’ve seen with myself and my clients how much information our body does have for us. If we don’t feel emotions in the moment (which is common and understandable), our body will store them in our fascia (the connective tissue that surrounds the muscles and bones) until we’re ready to process through them.
The awareness to be present in our body and the connection to what we’re feeling are both signs of stability and evolution. Once we’re feeling stable in ourselves, we’re able to be open to our vulnerability and explore our emotions in order to complete the cycle and move forward. If we weren’t in a place to work with what’s coming up, we would disconnect from the feeling. The sensitivity is a gift when we have the space to support it.
I made a video for you with exercises to balance your hips. If you know someone who struggles with issues in this area, please share with them.
These explorations are really helpful to talk through first with a therapist if you feel shut off from or have experienced trauma here. As always with any type of emotional work or body curiosity, it’s important to listen to how you are feeling and if it’s not safe, don’t do it. I’m here if you have any questions or are needing support around understanding what your body is saying and how to care for yourself with compassion. Be kind to yourself dear friend as the compassion makes the tough stuff easier.