You can relieve tension and stress before it results in physical pain
With holidays just around the corner, family gatherings, end of year deadlines, school projects and work piling up as the world opens up again, it’s easy to experience tension and stress that can evolve into muscular pain.
Pain from stress and anxiety is much more common than we think. In many of my interactions with our customers at festivals, I hear how their pain originated from stress and anxiety.
In fact, 70% of adults in the U.S. say that they feel stress or anxiety daily. So I’d like to share with you some simple ways to relieve tension and stress before it results in physical pain.
In order to prevent pain from taking hold, you need to create space and time for relaxation. Being in a constant state of tension will cause your muscles to be contracted which can result in constricted blood flow and pain.
Cultivate activities that help you to deeply relax. When you relax, your muscles will begin to loosen and tension will be released. This will automatically lower your pain level. Following are some relaxation suggestions for you.
Breathing exercises are a great thing to do to calm the nervous system and activate the relaxation response.
Another benefit of breath work is that it will quiet the busy mind. Just by doing a simple 4-4-7 breathing technique for 5 minutes (breath in for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts, exhale for 7 counts) you can transform the way you feel.
Mindful breathing is great for oxygenating your body, relieving tension, calming the mind and the nervous system as well as reducing pain. Doing breathing techniques with intention and focus provides the best results and it will help relieve pain, tension and stress.
Moving your body is one of the most powerful ways to combat stress. It helps to move the lymph, push the toxins out and oxygenate your cells. This will help alleviate the pain.
Make sure you move your body every day! It doesn’t mean that while you are feeling pain you should do high impact exercises. Listen to your body! If you are feeling energetic and vital, you can push yourself a little more. If not, you can take it easy and try a more relaxed type of exercise like walking, mindful stretching or light yoga.
The benefits are greater if you do it consistently. People who exercise regularly are less likely to experience anxiety and tension. YouTube has free exercise videos of all types online for easy access.
Using pure essential oils by breathing them in or through a diffuser is a great way to reduce feelings of tension and stress. Also, you can seek out candles made with pure essential oils and create a Spa-like feel in your own home.
Poor sleeping habits can contribute to an increase in pain and inflammation. Good sleep habits are something that we have to cultivate.
Many factors can negatively impact your sleep such as artificial lighting, eating too late, spending time using electronics before going to bed, falling asleep with the TV on and drinking too much alcohol.
A good night’s sleep will allow your body to rest, repair and recharge. This will have a positive effect on boosting your mood and reducing inflammation which will reduce aches and pains.
Mainstream personal care products that are not all-natural are often loaded with chemicals. Just read the labels and you will see all of the unpronounceable ingredients. Over time, these toxic chemicals can build up in your body’s tissues and joints and create inflammation and pain.
This is why it is important to choose pure, clean, organic products from reliable sources whenever possible. Learn to become a label detective and avoid chemicals in your food (processed foods), household and personal care products.
By moving away from chemicals, you can live a life with less inflammation and less pain. You can then feel a sense of ease knowing that you are making the best choices for your health and well- being. 🙂
Wishing you all the best in health, peace and love,
Kim Keeshin
