Stress can be debilitating, and it can cause and/or aggravate health problems. Since stress is a normal part of human existence — nobody is immune to it — it’s important to arm ourselves with knowledge so that we recognize when stress rears its ugly head. Stress Awareness Month happens each April. Monica Hahn, owner of Elements Massage in Bon Air, offers these tips to manage your stress:
1. Take a few mindfulness breaks during the day. Close your eyes, become aware of the tension in your body, then relax and release any tight areas. Don’t forget to breathe! Aromatherapy or relaxing music can enhance the experience.
2. Stay grounded with massage. In order to anchor the racing mind, we need to get back into our bodies. One of the best ways to achieve this is with massage. The experienced massage therapists at Elements Massage will select the massage technique that is most beneficial for your wellbeing and offer a safe and nurturing environment to let go of accumulated stress. Regular massage can make a huge difference in regaining and maintaining our sense of inner strength and balance.
3. Focus on breathing. Stress influences our breathing and in turn breathing can influence and reduce stress. Try alternate nostril breathing, a powerful exercise to calm the mind.
4. Unwind. For a simple and powerful way to release tension in your body and mind, set aside 10 minutes of uninterrupted alone time. Start by standing, sitting down or laying on your bed. Close your eyes, let go, and allow your body to release tension. You may start yawning, a sign of tension leaving your system. Emotions most likely will rise up during the process as stress gets released. Be a witness to those emotions and observe as they rise up and get released in waves. Take as long as you need to rest afterwards and come out of the process. You will be amazed at how light and refreshed you will feel!
5. Invite restorative sleep. To improve sleep quality, avoid electronic devices for at least one hour before bed, giving your mind a chance to unwind. You can play relaxing music, do some gentle stretching, take a warm bath … anything that helps you let go of the day’s tensions. Drinking a cup of herbal tea or turmeric milk and massaging your feet with essential oils can also help with grounding and calming.
All 5 of these tips can help release tension and increase mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. If the last year has taught us anything, it’s the importance of self-care. So follow a regular routine to slow down, ground and nurture yourself.