I’ve been become the “Stress Expert” at Parenting Press because I’ve written a book called “Mudras; Ancient Gestures to Ease Modern Stress,” and because of my thirty years experience as a massage therapist.
During the month of June, we’ll talk about the following ways to reduce stress:
1. Breathing, slowly and deeply.
2.Simple self-massage of the shoulders, neck, head and hands.
3. Gestures that can move us from anxious to calm, tense to relaxed, scattered to focus.
4. How we can teach some of these same skills to our children.
Let us start with the breath. Whenever I work on the shoulders of clients, I ask them to take four long, deep breaths from way down in their belly. As they do this, I can feel their muscles start to relax. Anyone can do this. And it gets them out of their “fight or flight” responses. So, just try it. The next time you become aware that your neck or shoulders are tight, try breathing with awareness.
Here is how to do it:
Get in a comfortable position. Your back should be straight, your feet uncrossed.
Begin breathing. Start with your belly. Place a hand on your belly to feel it filling up.
Keep breathing as your belly fills up, your chest expands, and your lungs fill up.
Pause – When you can’t breathe in anymore, be aware of your breath for just a moment.
Release Breath. Your lungs start emptying out, your chest contracts, and then your belly feels empty.
Pause again. Be aware of your empty belly for just a moment.
Start the cycle over. Begin breathing again.
It’s hard to believe something this simple can relieve stress, but it can and it does. The more you practice, the more it will help.
Parenting Reflections 