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Emotional Body Map - Skeleton
According to a Harvard study titled 'Twelve-Minute Daily Yoga Routine Reverses Osteoporotic Bone Loss', "yoga is a great way to maintain bone health as well as improve bone density." "Stress affects every area of the body from your sleep, to your digestion, immune function, to your hormones. When it comes to your skeleton, stress causes your bones to release the minerals they need for bone formation into the bloodstream for the benefit of other tissues. Your body does this because, when you are stressed, your fight-or-flight response is activated and your repair processes are suppressed. Any expendable nutrients are sent to the essential organs – being the brain, heart and lungs – for quicker decision making and response times to help get you out of danger." "Unfortunately, if you experience chronic stress, your bones are continuously deprived of minerals, which can result in bone loss."
We do yoga to physically, mentally and emotionally move unwanted energy from the body.
Neck - Stiff neck can be an emotional storage place for stubbornness or the refusal to see the other side of the situation, an annoyance, in the form of a person or a job think “pain in the neck” Asanas: triangle pose, neck rolls seated twists
Shoulders - Where we carry our experiences / burdens from interacting with others and / or the world. Carrying a heavy emotional load. Perhaps you’re taking on too much for other people, or maybe you’re keeping all your problems inside. Asanas: Puppy pose, eagle arms, modified cow face arms
Spine - Represents the support of life Upper Spine - One may feel unloved, a lack of emotional support, holding back love. Hunched shoulders is usually means one is protecting their heart, the heart chakra is located there as well. Middle Spine - Represents guilt, being stuck in the past. “Get of my back” type of attitude, not standing up for what is authentic, what is true. Think of the posture of a person who doesn’t stand up for themselves, who lets people walk all over them Low Spine - Represents fear of money and lack of financial support, survival. “Think of the term back breaking work" and where one would put their hand...on their lower back. Asanas: Cat/ Cow, Upward Dog, Downward Dog, seated twists, locust pose
Hips - Home of unprocessed emotions in the body; Many of us tend to store our emotions in the hip region. This is a natural part of the “fight or flight” stress response. Each time we feel threatened or have a stress reaction, we physically respond by tensing in this area and drawing ourselves in (bringing the knees into the chest to protect the inner organs) or by tensing in that area in preparation to run away to protect ourselves. Represents being hesitant about facing the future. Nothing to look forward to, scared of change. Asanas: pigeon pose, goddess pose, butterfly pose
Hamstrings - It could be caused by your low back—if your low back is tight it will pull on your hamstrings, shortening them (financial support) If your tension is specifically in the hamstrings and buttocks, you might be a flight-er. Meaning when shit goes down, you’re probably the one to flee vs. stay and fight. It really goes down to issues with the first chakra (basic needs for survival). So if your hamstrings are extremely tight, it could be your body telling you that it’s time to “let go” let go of things that no longer serve you. From ways of thinking about things to personal habits to people. Asanas: Downward dog, standing forward fold, seated forward fold (Yoga International)
Knees - The knee shows humility, submission, acceptance, (think of when people pray, bow, or courtesy) A stiff knee represents stubborn pride and ego, inability to bend, fear, a “not gonna give in” attitude
-Water in the knee indicates a holding of emotional energy, particularly a resistance to surrender
-An inflamed knee indicates that something or someone is making you feel irritated or angry, and you will not give in
-A dislocated knee shows a resistance to acceptance. The knee can no longer take the pressure so it collapses and you are unable to maintain your standing. To dislocate is to lose Asanas: Warrior 1, Warrior 2, Bridge Pose, reclined bound angle pose
Ankles - the ankle is a joint that allows balance and adaptation to the terrain; Ankles can represent our ability to change direction or go with the flow in life. ankle-related problems indicate lack of balance at home and/or with the partner, or at work. means that we feel devalued with respect to the direction we decided to take or with the lifestyle we lead. How can I cultivate more balance in my life? Asanas: eagle pose, camel pose, chair pose, half moon pose
Joints - Metaphysically, joints carry unresolved pain and trauma from the past; they can be stuffed with angry (crystalized) emotions caused from childhood feelings of rejection and low self-worth. Early experiences of love may not have been freely given but withheld as a form of punishment…the child felt abandoned/neglected, overly controlled and restricted. Asanas: Sun Salutation A & B
https://thewhoot.com/life/emotional-pain-chart
https://www.avogel.co.uk/health/muscles-joints/joint-pain/are-emotions-to-blame-for-your-joint-pain/