Tips for Relaxation
The latest craze it seems on the Pilates front is Mental Pilates. You could buy the book but what it basically involves is achieving the relaxed state during the day that you get during class. Here are my top tips to stay relaxed, reduce stress levels and quickly unwind – (I certainly need them with 3 children under the age of 5!)
- Take a few minutes a day to breathe deeply. Fill your lungs completely and feel the stress flowing out with the exhale. Breathing deeply helps the body get rid of excess carbon dioxide, fills the body with oxygen and, Joseph Pilates believed, cleanses the body.
- Be aware of your body and how it stores emotion. When you’re tense notice areas of the body that hold tension. Press your shoulders down away from your ears and gently move the neck to relax. Be aware of other areas such as hands and face that also hold excess tension and work on letting go.
- Focus on the task at hand. Have you noticed when you’re completely focussed on a task you enjoy time flies by and you really unwind. It could be listening to music, gardening, reading or abseiling! When you’re completely concentrating on something your brain can’t worry you with all the thoughts that race around it. Trying to keep that attention on other less enjoyable tasks isn’t as easy but can be done. Keeping your awareness on what you are doing rather the long list of jobs in your head helps you feel less overwhelmed and reduces stress levels.
- Take some time for yourself each day – even if it’s just having a bath or shower in peace! Even a couple of minutes by yourself can help you recharge. Know when you need time out and don’t be afraid to ask for other for help when you need to recharge.
- Turn off the television, phone, and radio and cut out background noise. We are so used to constant noise, take a moment to turn the radio off in the car and enjoy being able to collect your thoughts.
- Try meditation. There’s nothing mystical about it. It’s simply being able to turn your awareness inwards and be in the moment. At first your brain will try to distract you with all sorts of inane thoughts so start with a couple of minutes and build up slowly. Don’t get frustrated just be aware of how much nonsense is in our head most of the time! Usually we’re worrying about things that have happened, which we can’t change, or things that might happen, which usually don’t! Learn to control those thoughts and you’ll feel a new sense of calmness and reduction in stress.