When was the last time you paid attention to your body? If it's been awhile, maybe you haven't noticed what stress is doing to you. Take a moment right now and pay attention to how you feel. If you're like many of us, you may be experiencing tight, rounded shoulders, a clenched jaw, a stiff neck, an aching back and, perhaps, a general feeling of being stiff and tight.
Stress levels are high right now and it's reflected in our bodies. When was the last time you took a break and stretched? Or just sat down, closed your eyes and took a moment to breathe? If it's been awhile, your challenge today is to find a few minutes and do just that. You can try some of these stress-relieving exercises or you can just turn off the lights, close the door and shut out the world.
- Standing Cat Stretch
Lower into a squat with the hands on the thighs, back arched. Pull the abs in and round the back up towards the ceiling. Lower and repeat 15 times.
- Torso Stretch
Seated or standing, lace the fingers together and stretch them up towards the ceiling. Take a deep breath as you stretch up as high as you can, then exhale and open the arms, sweeping them back down. Repeat for 8-10 reps.
- Chest Stretch
Lie face up on the ball and roll down until you back is fully supported. Relax your hips and head and let your arms fall out to the sides for a relaxing chest stretch. Hold for 3-5 breaths.
More Tips for Stress Reduction
Do you have a favorite stress-relieving exercise? Leave a comment and tell us about it - we could all use a break from stress these days.
A mod of the cat stretch – get into that same position, but then get your back into a plank style position by putting palms on thighs, pushing outward (straight) with back and extending front of neck. It really uncrunches your lower back. Can do at work w/o looking nuts.
To stretch the psoas (that big muscle inside of the front of your hip that joins your thigh to your back and a bunch of other things) at work: Do the runner’s stretch which is that deep lunge really concentrating on that muscle by pushing down on backward thigh or putting outstretched knee to the ground and levering that hip and leg down. If it is tight, you will know it. It’s tightness can be the cause of lots of back pain. It shortens from sitting all day at your desk!
Love that chest stretch Paige. Sometimes I forget about that one and boy does it feel good.