Even if you can’t get away this summer, you still need to relax and enjoy time away from work. Here are some fun, unusual ways to chill out, recharge your batteries and feel refreshed— all without leaving home. Dr. Ann Marie Chiasson, MD, author of Energy Healing, The Essentials of Self Care, shares her tips for relaxing:
- Gather energy for each day– Use slowed breath, movement or exercise to consciously bring vitality and energy into your body to greet the demands of the day.
- Tap your toes together or your fingertips to relieve stress– Lie flat in bed and rotate your legs to allow your toes to tap together over and over, quickly and rhythmically. If you are upright, tap your fingertips together to allow energy to move through your body. This moves the stress through instead of allowing it to disrupt the nervous system.
- Breathe– Breathing can shift your nervous system from overload to relaxed. Slow your breath down. Breathe in gently through your nose for the count of four. Hold for the count of seven and breathe out through your mouth for the count of eight. Repeat this four times, at least twice a day, or during times when you feel your stress level rising.
- Shake the Bones– Imagine a cord attached to the crown of your head, reaching up to the sky. Allow your body to relax like a rag doll hanging from this cord. Let your neck relax and fall to one side. Bounce gently up and down from your knees, and allow the rest of your body to shake. Shake your shoulders and your arms; let your neck gently roll from side to side. Use your breath with each movement to shake out old experiences, feelings, or tensions that come into your awareness during this exercise. Do this for two to five minutes a day initially, and work up to 10 minutes a day.
- Slow down, time bends– Slowing our pace in each moment and by practicing not to rush allows us more time to get things done.
- Laugh as much as you can– Laughter is a wonderful way to connect to yourself and relieve stress. Try renting funny movies, remember and re-tell funny stories and read funny books. Laughter is an excellent way to enjoy yourself and your family.
For more tips visit annmariechiassonmd.com.
