The mind and the body are way more connected than one might think. For instance, you may not realize that when you are angry, your jaw tenses up, your body temperature increases, and your eyebrows tend to frown. Yet unfortunately, these physical manifestations of our feelings are sometimes not so clear, and we end up with a hunched-over back, and tightened chest because we are stressed and anxious. Here are the best tips to release some of these negative feelings in the body.
"When our mind is in a state of stress and fight or flight, our bodies are in preparation mode to respond to what it perceives might be potentially even a life or death situation," explained licensed clinical and forensic neuropsychologist, Judy Ho. "This causes the sympathetic nervous system to activate, your heart rate increases, and your body tenses up in preparation to act. Chronically, this can cause muscle tension and soreness throughout the body." Likewise, other ways our stress can impact our body are migraines, teeth clenching, and painful tight jaws.
A great way to lower the response of the sympathetic system is to do breathwork - especially box breathing. This technique will help the body relax and, in turn, give it signals that there's no need to be in a flight or fight response. "Take a breath in and count to four while drawing one of the vertical sides of a square in front of your face with your finger," Dr. Ho instructed. "Then hold for four while drawing the top of the box horizontally, then breathe out for four drawing the other vertical side of the box, and hold for four while completing the box by drawing the bottom horizontal line." Repeat 10 times full the full effects.
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Another breathwork technique that will melt away all the negative stress is doing a body scan. It combines meditation and breathwork as you sit in a comfortable position bringing awareness and breath to each body part from head to toe. The last tip we have is to get rid of the energy by moving! Stagnant energy and stress can sit in our neck, shoulder, and chest area, so try some of our favorite stretches - and you'll feel the release in no time. Good luck!
