To Release Your Muscles, First Tense Them

Happy April, Passover, Easter and Tranquility Thursday, Overwhelmed Yogis.

I just finished the audiobook of Lily King’s beautiful novel Writers & Lovers. The protagonist, struggling with anxiety and panic following the death of her mother, tells a date that only one thing helps her to feel a bit better: clenching her muscles.

While the book is fiction, the effectiveness of this technique is real.

Muscle tense and release soothes the nervous system in under a minute. See my video tutorial here. It can be done laying down or standing, from head to toe (as shown), or start with the feet and work up to your face. Try it first thing in the morning, before bed or anytime during the day when you need a reset. I use it in the middle of the night if I am having trouble sleeping. In a yoga practice it’s also great to do before savasana.

Spend about five seconds each squeezing:

- your face

- your shoulders and upper back

- your hands

- your stomach

- your glutes

- your thighs

- your calves and toes

- your whole body

Then let everything go.

The point is that to feel relaxed, you must first feel the opposite.

I’d love to know how this goes for you (and if you’ve read or listened to any great books lately).

Each Monday I post a movement break to support your body, each Thursday an exercise or tip for your nervous system. Please let me know if you have any content requests.