When Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira came out with her 2006 song “Hips Don’t Lie,” she may have been onto something. Since ancient times, people have believed that the hips are holders of our past trauma and pain, especially when it comes to women.
According to Alice Bracegirdle, CEO and co-founder of Bellyfit and a DailyOM course creator, it’s not just the hips, but also the entire pelvic region that encompasses our old wounds. “For women, the pelvic bowl is both our seat of power and our greatest liability. Our pelvis is what makes us female. We bleed, we have sex, we give birth, we digest and create life, all from this area,” she explains. “It is also a place that for many women has been violated and objectified, causing tremendous trauma and pain.”
In order to release and heal long-held trauma in your pelvic region, you might consider taking a cue from Shakira — at least by looking at what your hips are trying to “tell” you. “We can do all the talking, journaling, reading, breathing, visualizing, and womb clearing we want, but if we’re not physically moving the hips in circles, spirals, and twists, that blocked energy that is holding the trauma will never be released,” Bracegirdle says.
Read on for more about why it’s vital to work with this area of your body through functional movement, as well as the tender or stored emotional trauma it may hold, so you can fully release, reset, and renew your relationship with the seat of your power in order to live your most authentically healthy life.
Meet Your Teacher: Alice Bracegirdle
Nearly two decades ago, as a sleep-deprived, overextended new mother, Alice Bracegirdle awoke to the absolute necessity for all women to be connected to their innate feminine energy in order to heal and live an empowered, joyful life. Today, she’s the CEO and co-founder of Bellyfit, which blends ancient feminine wisdom with modern functional movement, as well as a global influencer in the world of women’s holistic fitness.
“Navigating the web of women’s health in the modern world can often feel completely overwhelming, confusing, and disempowering,” she shares. “I love that my work helps women cut through all the conflicting information out there and go right to the source of their own truth and healing: their body. No matter how many supplements you take, how many experts you consult, how many books you read or podcasts you listen to, if you’re not tuned in to what your unique needs are, nothing is going to work. Yes, there are some basic health principles that relate to all of us, but at the end of the day, we are all very unique — and our healing path is going to be unique to us.”
What Exactly Is the Pelvic Region — and Why Do We Hold Emotional Pain There?
First and foremost, the pelvic region houses the pelvis, the bony, muscular, and connective tissue structures that support vital organs, allow movement, and serve as a base for the body, Bracegirdle tells us.
Getting a little more technical, she adds that the pelvic region includes a whole lot of other stuff, including the ilium, ischium, pubis, sacrum, coccyx, and pubic symphysis, as well as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, vagina, bladder, rectum, pelvic floor muscles, and transversus abdominis (plus a wide array of ligaments and connective tissues). It is also very much connected to the autonomic nervous system, which controls our automatic stress responses.
Per Bracegirdle, there’s another important muscle connected to the pelvic region that plays a profound role in the physical, emotional, and energetic well-being of women: the psoas.
“The psoas originates from the mid spine and travels through the pelvis to insert on the inner thigh bone,” she explains. “It directly influences reproductive and digestive health and is often called the ‘emotional muscle’ because it is deeply involved in the body’s stress response — contracting during times of fear, anxiety, or stress as part of the fight-or-flight response — and is a repository for emotional trauma.”
Over time, emotions like fear, grief, and anger, as well as unprocessed trauma, may become “held” in the psoas, Bracegirdle says. “A healthy, relaxed psoas allows for free and fluid movement, allowing for emotional openness and freedom. A tight or tense psoas is a result of fear, suppression, denial, or emotional ‘armor,’” she explains. In other words, the health and well-being of our hips may directly correlate to painful past experiences and our willingness to release them.
The same can be said for the pelvic floor, Bracegirdle tells us. “For women, experiences of fear, shame, or grief can manifest as chronic tension, pelvic pain, or numbness in this region, disconnecting them from their bodies and hindering the flow of Shakti, or feminine energy, in the body.” (Simply put, Shakti, in Hinduism, is a concept of universal power that sustains all existence.)
She adds that, energetically, the pelvic floor aligns with the root and sacral chakras, which govern grounding, creativity, and emotional well-being, making it an essential focus in trauma healing. “Healing the pelvic floor for women is about reclaiming our power and releasing what no longer serves,” says Bracegirdle.
Key Things to Know About Stored Trauma in the Pelvic Region
- It’s an issue most women (and even some men) face. “I would say that every post-puberty woman on this planet has some sort of emotion stored in their pelvis, which, of course, includes the hips,” says Bracegirdle.
- The experience feels different for everyone, but there are some more common physical complaints. Among them are pain, tightness, contraction, cramping, and even indigestion, Bracegirdle notes.
- Stored trauma can manifest in different ways. If these issues are left unaddressed, those with stored trauma in their pelvic region may experience a range of physical, emotional, and energetic imbalances.
- It’s more than possible to heal, but it takes courage. “Anyone can release stored trauma from the hips and pelvis, but only if they are somewhat brave, open to transformation, and willing to do the work,” she says. “Compassion is key.”
- The essence to healing is movement in the hips. “We need to literally ‘get in there’ and get the energy moving,” Bracegirdle says. “Once the energy is moving, deep healing may be possible.”
Why Is Releasing Trauma From the Pelvic Region and Psoas So Important?
If we don’t work on letting go of stored trauma and emotional pain in our pelvic region and psoas, Bracegirdle says it might manifest in the body in potentially concerning physical ways, like with chronic tension. According to Bracegirdle, psychosomatically, this kind of chronic tension can adversely impact our reproductive, hormonal, and digestive health — a belief long held by Eastern traditions, though there isn’t much science to support it.
Unfortunately, the consequences of not addressing our pelvic well-being may not just be limited to physical concerns. “Blocked pelvic energy may also affect mental and emotional health, leading to anxiety, depression, or a sense of disconnection from creativity, sensuality, and intuition,” Bracegirdle says. “Many women may experience diminished sexual desire, difficulty reaching orgasm, or a sense of numbness in the pelvic region. Left unaddressed, these blockages can amplify feelings of stagnation or insecurity, impacting overall well-being in a myriad of ways.”
But there’s good news: Release and healing may be possible through self-compassion, practice, openness, curiosity, and nonjudgment.
7 Benefits of Releasing Trauma From the Pelvic Region
The pelvis can be a powerful portal for healing, according to Bracegirdle. Here, she shares some of the most profound benefits for the body, mind, and spirit that she has experienced through her work with ancient feminine energy and modern functional movement.
1. It may soothe stress and increase emotional regulation.
“Releasing trauma may help recalibrate the nervous system, reducing the intensity of fight-or-flight responses and fostering a sense of calm,” Bracegirdle says. “This can help women to better manage stress, respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively, and maintain emotional equilibrium in challenging situations.”
A study found that a body-oriented therapeutic approach called Somatic Experiencing had a positive effect on the well-being of subjects with post-traumatic stress disorder.
2. It may enhance self-awareness and lead to more fulfilling relationships.
When you clear emotional blockages, you’re more able to create space for deeper self-reflection, self-love and care, and understanding, Bracegirdle tells us. “With greater self-awareness, women can identify triggers, recognize patterns, and develop healthier coping mechanisms, leading to more authentic relationships with themselves and others.”
3. It may increase your capacity for joy and connection.
“Trauma often creates emotional barriers, making it difficult to fully experience joy and intimacy,” Bracegirdle says. But letting go of stored pain can enable you to reconnect with positive emotions, fostering a greater ability to trust, love, and connect with others.
4. It may improve mood, self-love, and self-compassion.
When you hold stored trauma in the pelvic region, this can perpetuate feelings of fear, hopelessness, or sadness, according to Bracegirdle. “Processing and releasing these emotions can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, offering a renewed sense of self-love and hope.”
Further, research continually shows the mental and emotional health benefits of increased self-compassion. In a study, subjects who performed simple self-compassion exercises were able to switch off the body’s stress response, which is believed to substantially reduce the risk of disease.
5. It may promote resilience and feelings of empowerment.
“Healing trauma builds emotional resilience by transforming wounds into wisdom and pain into power,” Bracegirdle notes. “This shift may allow women to approach life with a greater sense of agency, confidence, and the ability to navigate challenges that will inevitably arise.”
As an example, during the pandemic in 2021, researchers discovered a promising correlation between having emotional resilience and better mental health.
6. It may boost your physical and mental health and vitality.
It is believed that unprocessed trauma may manifest as physical tension, chronic pain, or illness. “Releasing emotional trauma can ease physical symptoms linked to stress and restore overall well-being by promoting a harmonious connection between mind and body,” Bracegirdle shares from her experience.
In one study, veterans with PTSD who underwent eight weeks of mindfulness-based stress reduction experienced increased brain function, particularly around focus, attention, and interoception, which provides critical information about our physical and emotional states.
7. It may give you the freedom to create and thrive.
“Trauma can stifle creativity and suppress a woman’s sense of purpose and meaning in life,” Bracegirdle notes. “Healing these emotional wounds opens the door to renewed inspiration and passion, empowering women to explore their potential and live a life aligned with their values.”
The Bottom Line
Healing trauma in your pelvic region and psoas is more than possible, and it may not just benefit your well-being on every level — it could also very well help change the world.
“Whatever happened in the past, no matter how horrific, may be resolved,” Bracegirdle says. “Yes, it will take time, there may be some ugly crying involved, and it will not be a linear path, but with devotion and self-compassion, we can restore our seat of power, our creative womb space, with vital life force. Living a pleasure-filled life is our birthright and, in fact, all of humanity will benefit when we women feel amazing in our bodies and have energy and love to share with the world.”
Editorial Resources and Fact-Checking
- Kuhfuß M et al. Somatic Experiencing — Effectiveness and Key Factors of a Body-Oriented Trauma Therapy: A Scoping Literature Review. European Journal of Psychotraumatology. July 12, 2021.
- Kirschner H et al. Soothing Your Heart and Feeling Connected: A New Experimental Paradigm to Study the Benefits of Self-Compassion. Clinical Psychological Science. 2019.
- Li F et al. Effects of Sources of Social Support and Resilience on the Mental Health of Different Age Groups During the COVID-19 Pandemic. BMC Psychiatry. 2021.
- Kang SS et al. Interoception Underlies Therapeutic Effects of Mindfulness Meditation for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. August 2022.
