What Low Back Pain Might Be Telling You

As a registered yoga instructor for over seven years, the most common complaint I hear is tightness and pain in the low back and hips. It makes sense—two major connective tissues converge here: the piriformis and the iliotibial (IT) band. When these are tight, it often results in lower back pain, hamstring stiffness, and a general sense of restriction.

But what does this have to do with trauma?

When we’re in a heightened state of stress—fight, flight, or freeze—the body mobilizes. The adrenals send energy to the hips and legs to prepare for survival: to run, to fight, or to shut down and disappear. I often see this pattern in those who have experienced sexual trauma or abuse. The body holds on—literally. It protects. Even when we’re not consciously aware of danger, our nervous system remembers.

This area of the body is also home to vital organs, which is why trauma often shows up as chronic issues like IBS, constipation, Crohn’s, or bladder and pelvic dysfunction. UTIs, cystitis, endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts—these aren’t just medical conditions. Often, they’re messages from a body trying to communicate its pain.

Abuse in any form shifts how we relate to our bodies. When it doesn’t feel safe to be in your body, the brain finds ways to escape—through dissociation, distraction, or disconnection.

As a somatic therapist, one of my core goals is to gently guide clients back into their bodies. To help rebuild that bridge—creating safety, connection, and eventually, trust.

The truth is, when we don’t feel safe, our muscles tighten and close—just like every other living thing in nature. Learning to shift from resenting your pain to honoring your body’s protection is a radical act of self-compassion.

It’s not easy. But it changes everything.

When you stop criticizing your body for doing what it was designed to do, your nervous system softens. Safety is born from within. And healing becomes possible—not through force, but through patience, consistency, and kindness.

Eva