Do you find yourself tapping your foot, bouncing your knee, or drumming your fingers during the day? Do you ever rest your hands on top of your head (or behind your head) so you can take a bigger breath? Do you notice yourself swaying or rocking when you are talking on the phone or waiting in line?
All of these are simple mind-body strategies we naturally do to soothe and settle our nervous systems when we are stressed or feeling overwhelmed. And we can use these same practices intentionally to feel a little better when needed.
Our bodies have natural ways to “reset” from stress during the day. Many of the movemindfully Breathe Move Rest practices are variations of what we instinctively do as a reset when needed.
Try these exercises and then notice the times when your body does them again naturally:
Tapping – Use Tapping when you need to release stress/tension or to wake your body up. Breathe slowly and tap gently across the top of your ribcage for 3-5 breaths. Pause and notice how you feel.
Hands on Head – Take a break for a bigger, more regulating breath by resting your hands on your head (like an athlete) as you breathe slowly. Take 3-5 breaths and notice how you feel.
Rocking/Swaying – Sitting or standing, give yourself a loose hug and gently sway or rock as you breathe slowly. Do this for 3-5 slow breaths. Notice how you feel. You might notice people around you start rocking, too.
These simple stress relievers might be helpful today when you need a little break. Your body might naturally tell you when you need one of these, too. Let us know what you discover when you listen to what your body needs.