Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Simple De-Stressing Movements to Practice throughout the Busy Holiday Season

Here are some simple movements we can all do to de-stress through the holidays.

The movements focus on our brain stem—which controls breathing, heart rate, stress response, and all the other automatic functions of the body—to help release tension and bring your mind to a relaxed, meditative state.

1. Breathe through your abdomen. Take deep breaths from your abdomen (your belly should rise as you inhale and sink as you exhale) to provide your body and brain with sufficient oxygen. This releases the spine’s tension, relaxes the central nervous system, fills the brain and body with vitality, facilitates digestion, and eases drowsiness.

2. Tap your brain. Using the index and middle fingers of both hands, start at the temple and very gently tap across the top of your skull, moving back to front and side to side randomly. This very simple and gentle move increases blood flow to the brain and almost immediately improves focus. (Caveat: It can also make some people slightly dizzy.)

3. Spread your arms. Sitting at your desk, your shoulders can become stiff and block the flow of energy through your body.

4. Rotate your neck. Neck and shoulder stiffness hinders the blood and oxygen flows to the brain, keeping you from having a clear head. By slowing rotating your neck, you refresh your neck and spine, and stimulate your central nervous system.

Ilchi Lee, founder of Dahn Yoga, and founder and president of the International Brain Education Association in Sedona, Ariz. (brainwavevibration.com) developed these moves to help people with stress. Check it out.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can't believe how stressful this 2008 holiday season is for my family, friends and me. We want to be generous with our gifts, but find our shrunken budgets demanding frugality worthy of Skrooge. These exercises are exactly what Santa ordered. I love them and feel the easing of the physical tension related to the mental stress. Many thanks.

Vickie Reedy said...

Thank you! I am so glad it helped you. Be Blessed! Vickie