Positional Release for a Short Iliopsoas: Simple Thumb Test and a Two-Minute Reset
Overview

A quick screening and a short positional release can change how a tight or shortened iliopsoas behaves. The approach is simple, reproducible, and effective: use a thumb-length test to identify the side that needs work, then place the muscle in a shortened position from both ends and hold for about two minutes. That brief hold calms the muscle spindles, reduces the stretch reflex, and often produces immediate improvement before deeper work.

How to Screen: the Thumb-Length Test

This is an accessible test you can use in clinic. Ask the client to bring both arms overhead and place the hands in a prayer position. Check that the heels of the hands sit on the same plane, then apply a gentle, not forceful, upward pull to give a light traction through the neck and torso.
Observe the thumbs. One thumb will often appear shorter. That apparent shortening commonly corresponds to a shortened iliopsoas on...

Recently, one of my students asked me to write about working with the piriformis. She had several clients experiencing piriformis syndrome and was getting frustrated with inconsistent results.

Piriformis syndrome—sometimes called piriformis dysfunction—goes by many names and is often misunderstood. I want to bring more clarity to this topic and share a broader, more effective way of looking at it.

If you’ve ever experienced it yourself, or if you treat clients with piriformis syndrome or sciatica, you know how intense it can be. It’s deeply painful and often creates wide-ranging referred pain. That’s why understanding this muscle in isolation isn’t enough—we need to see the full ecosystem.

Let’s start with the role of the piriformis then we’ll go around the corner to the psoas:

Piriformis acts as an external rotator of the hip and, in certain positions, becomes an internal rotator. It is extremely sensitive to anything happening around the sacroiliac (SI) joint because it attaches ...

I’ve had clients show up late, and suddenly it’s that awkward “uhhh… now what?” moment. Figuring out how to handle it (without turning into a puddle or a drill sergeant) is one of those boundary muscles we all have to flex.

The real question is: is this a one-off, or is this part of their pattern?

Because if it is a pattern—and you’ve already laid out your agreement—it’s absolutely okay to call them on it with calm, professional clarity.
The key is to stay neutral. Don’t take it personally. Just remind them of the boundaries you’ve already established. Something like:

Hi Peggy,
I was expecting you earlier—our session was booked for 2pm. Is everything okay?
I’m happy to continue with the remainder of your session time today, but going forward, please give me notice if you’re going to be late or if something urgent comes up.
I’ll always do my best to shift things when I can, but remember we have a 24-hour cancellation policy in place.
We’ve got about 40 minutes left for today. What would y...

Let’s be honest—it’s the worst when a client  doesn’t show up.
Your time matters, and when someone ghosts your table, it feels downright disrespectful.

Do you smile and let it go? Do you charge them for the missed session?
Here’s the truth: enforcing your cancellation policy isn’t mean—it’s boundaries with love.

When we don’t enforce it, we’re teaching clients that our time (and energy) is optional.
When we do, we’re modeling what healthy professional respect looks like.

So, what’s the real move here?
First—make sure you have a clear, written cancellation policy. (You do have one, right? No? Okay, friend—it’s officially time to put one in place!)
Second—communicate it upfront, not after a no-show. That way, you’re not having an awkward “money conversation,” you’re simply following the agreement you both already made.

Boundaries = respect.
For your time. For your craft. For you.

For the first offense, you might decide to waive your policy as a gesture of good-will, but for repeat ...

The Obstinate Pec Minor (PMI) can produce a hailstorm of problems throughout the body especially in the shoulders, arm, neck and respiration. Working with it effectively goes a long way in helping you help your clients with neck and shoulder issues, breathing restrictions and even wrist and elbow pain. If the iliopsoas is the hidden prankster of low back pain (Travell and Simons), the PMI is the hidden trickster of the shoulder girdle.  

Imagine three long fingers extending on an inferior and medial diagonal path from the coracoid process to ribs 3-5 (attachments have been found on ribs 2 and 6 on some folks). This multitasking stabilizer connects the shoulder girdle (scapula and clavicle) to the thorax. The PMI seems to glory in pulling the coracoid process towards the ribs (whether it needs it or not) causing a profusion of myofascial and bio-mechanical distortions. PMI drags the glenohumeral (GH) joint with it as it pulls the coracoid process towards the ribs. 

This stalwart muscle may be super small but it’s super strong: Despite being a relatively small muscle, the supraspinatus is crucial in maintaining shoulder stability. It helps keep the head of your humerus properly aligned in the glenoid fossa.

It's the most commonly injured rotator cuff muscle: Out of all the muscles in the rotator cuff, the supraspinatus is the most commonly injured, especially in activities like throwing, lifting, or repetitive overhead motions. It's also a key culprit in shoulder pains.

It’s an abductor of the humerus – just think how many times a day you raise your arm to the side every day. This muscle is constantly multi-tasking!

The supraspinatus often becomes constricted, tightly gripping the humerus head. In this video I demonstrate a crucial strategy - the Pin and Move Method, (an integral part of my Muscle Swimming method)  in which the client performs movement as the therapist gently pins a point on the belly of supraspinatus. This approach helps to re...

The infraspinatus and teres minor may not always get the spotlight, but they’re the unsung heroes of the rotator cuff!

These two little muscles do an amazing job keeping your shoulder stable. In fact, they’re the only external rotators of the shoulder joint, which means they work extra hard to balance out the stronger internal rotators like the pec major, lats, teres major, anterior deltoid, and subscapularis.

When working with these muscles, a great technique to try is called "goading." This just means using strokes from the outside (lateral) to the inside (medial) to help them shorten and become more contractible.

PS- Instead of creating more strength in the internal rotators encourage your clients to do some simple exercises which strengthen the posterior thoracic and scapular stabilizers

Subscap can be a tricky muscle to palpate and is an essential skill to have in treating shoulders. Watch the video and learn a fool-proof way of finding it!

Recently, I was speaking with one of my coaching clients about raising her rates, and she was worried about running her clients off, driving them away.

I think everybody, including me, can identify with those worries.

If you're thinking about raising your rates, use a strategy I learned years ago from Sharon Desjarlais. It's called a Gratitude Sandwich.

Here's five steps that will get the job done to raise your rates without losing your clients or your integrity.

Step 1: Be intentional and decide on the exact date. Get it on your calendar. That way you won’t forget or be tempted to let it slide.

Step 2: Measure the value of your work accurately. Most therapists make a big mistake: They believe their value is in the time they spend with a client.

But your worth is never about the time. It's about the transformation. It's about the outcomes your clients get and how those results change their lives. Take about ten minutes and write down all the benefits that your clients get from th...

As bodyworkers we all treat people in pain and most of the time successfully. But what if your client has had pain for more than 3-6 months and is not responding to your or any other treatments?

It’s possible that it’s neuroplastic pain (also known as neural circuit pain, central sensitization, TMS (tension myoneural syndrome)

Neuroplastic pain results from the brain misinterpreting safe messages from the body as if they were dangerous. In other words, neuroplastic pain is a false alarm. Though the pain can be addressed through various practices, this does not imply that the pain is imaginary. The pain is REAL!

“The relationship between pain and the state of the tissues becomes weaker as pain persists”  Dr. Lorimer Moseley

In other words the longer the pain persists the higher the chance it’s being caused by the brain and nervous system. Without the brain there is no pain.

Neuroplastic pain is caused by a brain/nervous system which has gotten stuck in sympathetic arousal – fight, ...