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Stress Less: Stress Management Techniques
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Stress, according to the Oxford Dictionary “A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances”.
Stress can effect people in many ways, including:
Emotionally
Brain function
Behaviorally
End of financial year can be one of the most stressful times of the year.
Grace Barnes shares some of her management techniques –
Body movement:
Kinetic strategies for stress relief involve motion or movement, like running or lifting weights. The idea is that muscular movement works with the fight-or-flight response and the physical body preparation that builds up to this response, rather than against it. By providing a direct outlet and release for the physical stress response, kinetic strategies prevent the buildup of muscular tension.
Yoga, Meditation and breathing exercises:
Yoga helps you to access an inner strength that allows you to face the sometimes-overwhelming fears, frustrations, and challenges of everyday life.
A few Yoga exercises practiced daily (especially if they are done just prior to meditation) help to regulate the breath and relax the body by gently releasing tension from the large muscle groups, flushing all parts of the body and brain with fresh blood, oxygen, and other nutrients, and increasing feelings of well-being. “Whole body” exercises such as the Sun Poses are particularly helpful because they encourage you to breathe deeply and rhythmically. Many exercises can be adapted so you can do them even in an office chair. Our Basic Yoga video provides a complete introduction to these exercises and contains a 30-minute exercise routine with breathing, relaxation and meditation.
Yoga Nidra is Nadi Shodhana, or “alternate nostril breathing,” is a simple yet powerful technique that settles the mind, body, and emotions. It is particularly helpful to ease racing thoughts if you are experiencing anxiety, stress, or having trouble falling asleep.
Get Earthed:
Ever notice how you feel so energized and vibrant while walking on the beach? You probably attributed that to being on a beach vacation where your stress literally evaporated upon sinking your toes in the silky sand, inhaling that salty ocean air and soaking up some vitamin D elixir from the sun’s healing rays, right? Well that’s partially true. But there’s something else going on that’s creating this optimal state of health. What’s the magical ingredient? Electrons.
Our feet contain a rich, intricate network of nerves and acupuncture points and are especially adept at picking up free electrons from the earth’s surface. It’s called barefoot or caveman medicine, and walking barefoot – aka earthing or grounding – may be the easiest, simplest and cheapest way of shifting your body back to an optimal state of homeostasis and health.
The gist of the earthing theory is simply this: the earth is negatively charged, so when you ground, you’re connecting your body to a negatively charged supply of energy. And since the earth has a greater negative charge than your body, you end up absorbing electrons from it. These free electrons intercept the firestorm of free radicals (that create oxidative damage and inflammation) in our body and extinguish this fire. When you walk barefoot, you’re literally soaking up millions of electrons that decoagulate and detoxify your blood. So instead of your blood being all viscous and thick, like ketchup, it becomes free flowing, like red wine. Earthing also shifts the sympathetic nervous system back to the point where it has more tranquility, and clinical studies have shown that earthing helps with everything from inflammation to insomnia, and from autoimmune to heart disease.
HOW TO GET GROUNDED CONVENIENTLY? We don’t all have a the time or location to frolic on the beach daily…here are some easy alternatives.
In warmer weather, go barefoot. Even concrete allows some of the earth’s energy through!
Swim in natural waters: rivers and lakes.
Take naps or read in nature, on nature: right on the sand or grass, no towel down, or against a tree.
As the weather turns colder, consider bundling up and finding some wet grass to walk on! It feels great! (Dew and rainwater have additional energy in them.)
In cold weather, use earthing tools: grounding sheets, pads, stickers, and shoes.
Eat Grounding Foods:
So when we think root chakra, we want to focus in on grounding. Adding in foods like: carrots, potatoes, parsnips, radishes, onions and garlic, and anything else that roots itself, can have a soothing effect for our root chakra.
Dandelion Root tea can be a great way to end a day that has left you feeling a little disconnected, and it’s caffeine free!
A healthy root chakra vibrates at the color red. Therefore, red foods provide the vibration needed to help balance the root chakra. Nutritionally, red foods usually have high levels of vitamin C–a nutrient utilized by several body parts that the root chakra oversees, like bones, teeth, skin and adrenals. Some red foods you could try are tomatoes, strawberries, apples, pomegranates and cherries.
Avoid Stimulants:
Including caffeine, amphetamines, artificial colours and flavorings and sugar.
Herbs you can include:
Chamomile
Lavender
Ashwaganda
Holy Basil
Skull cap
Passionflower
Kava
Nutritional Supplements:
Magnesium
B complex
To make an appointment with our Wellness Expert:
Bondi Beach: 02 8897 0077
Bondi Junction: 02 9386 4411
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