A Few Stretches or Movements For Stress Relief

Let’s face it we have lots of things to do in this world and it can be stressful. I hear retired clients say all the time they can’t believe how they were able to do all the household things and work. Where does the time go? Especially for you working moms and dads of the world. This post was inspired by a client that has a very successful real estate business, three kids with the youngest being one years old and that darn kid is still disturbing the family’s sleep. Usually stress can be seen on your face and body language unless you are one to hold it in and explode later in panic attacks, crying bouts or taking it out on other people in angry outbursts or snide comments.

Try these stretches while doing some great deep and slow breathing. On the 

With each exhale think about all that stress or negative energy that feels like stress leaving your body on a white light and give it to the universe.

Seems a little weird I know. Since I got attuned and certified in Reiki Level 2 (intuitive energy healing) I have felt calmer and more connected to my holistic self. When I do this where I live now I think about giving it to the mountains whereas when I lived in Memphis I gave it to the Mississippi River or the Cotton Fields in Arkansas just across the river.  Whatever works for you just go for that stress relief and believe it will happen.

Emotions get stuck in your fascia so let it out! Think about the stretches as movement based and fluid. Don’t worry about proper form and if it looks exactly like my demonstrations below. Try and channel calmness and inner peace through your body. Will the stress or negative energy out from your toes all the way to your head and out with a breath through your fingertips. The very last one and not pictured is lie on the floor with your feet up the wall. Try to get your butt as close as you can. Stack one heel atop of the other foot’s toe. This one is great for calming the nervous system, lowering blood pressure, great for low back pain reduction all while being a great hamstring stretch.

The movement in the blue shirt is great is a shoulder stretch for internal and external rotation.
The movement with the grey top is a great lat stretch and lateral bending of the upper spine.

The movement/stretch in the purple top is one of my favorites. It’s twisting of the spine while stretching your spine, low back, glute and IT band. You will also feel it in your upper quarter like your chest or shoulder if you lack good flexibility. Remember it’s not how well you do it as you are just releasing stress. It can be modified with a bent knee and then you get more digestion/twisting of the organs into it. Our gut or digestion system plays a great role in our stress as well.

The one below is possibly my first go to aside from trigger point ball to the base of the skull. We hold a lot of stress and emotion in our gut/pelvic region. This plie / sumo squat movement is so great you can just feel the stress leaving your body. I usually do or recommend at least 15-20 reps. Since I had to pull this picture from my exercise library from my old studio let me give you the adjustments to make to this movement for optimal effectiveness. From the ground position move the arms up touching or not touching the middle of your body hip flexors, belly, sternum to the face all on in inhale. When you get to your mouth breath all that into your hands then turn our hands palms up like you are blowing something off of your hands in a very throaty / yoga style purposeful breath while making your lips form pucker style.