3 Tools to Relax Deeper

Aug 26

The dictionary defines Relax as : to relieve from nervous tension. Think back on your week and ask yourself how much were you able to relieve yourself from nervous tension aka stress.

I like to think of relaxing as allowing yourself the space you need in order to feel at peace inside your body.

*Studies have found that a high proportion (up to 80%) of patients reported uncommon emotional stress before disease onset.

That's a huge percentage pointing to the fact that stress is in direct relation to chronic symptoms and disease.

Many clients I see struggle with allowing themselves to relax and get the rest they need. Often they feel guilty, as though they "should be" doing something else, or feel shame around not having the energy they feel they "should have"...hello FOMO.

Do you find yourself "shoulding" on yourself a lot?!

Feeling stressed, fatigued, unable to focus, easily overwhelmed, or so "wired" + anxious that you can't relax, even if you want to, are all signs of Nervous System Dysregulation and you're in what's called Sympathetic Dominance.

So, instead of reaching for caffeine, chocolate, sugar or social media to push and keep going... try my tools below to help you shift into a state of relaxation and give your body what it needs.

Here are my go-to tools for regulating the nervous system that are simple and effective;

Lightly massage your ears; your Vagus Nerve runs from the brain down into the vital organs and is responsible for regulating digestion, heart rate, and breathing deeply!
Orient yourself to the room you're sitting in right now; look around slowly take inventory of each object in the room out loud or to yourself say what it is and what you notice about it, go slow, and feel the shift!
Belly Breathing; take slow intentional deep breaths expanding the belly and exhale even slower than you inhaled (count to 4 on inhale and to 7 on exhale) this massages your Vagus Nerve internally and relaxes the body.

If you are ready to give yourself the rest that you know your mind, body and soul need to heal, book a call and let's chat and get you the support you need! Click here to schedule a free consultation.

In health and healing,

Katie

*reference https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18190880/