Do you feel a little more stressed than usual recently? Yes, me and me. I’m not going to go into the thinnest details of everything that happens that can make us feel a little worried or even fried, because, well, you already know.
Even under more “normal” conditions, it is not uncommon to be all in our heads, to be trapped in our thoughts, worries and worries. So what can you do if you feel that you are a spiral down and you are going to start around the sewer? You can get out of your head and body.
This is something I talk to with my clients about a lot when their bodies are discontent their bodies are exhaustive and feels everything-consolidating. You wouldn’t think that entry into your body would be an anecdote to feel bad about your body, but “inside” is the word -key.
When we are in our bodies, we can feel more present, more compact, more anchored. And because your mind and body are connected and in constant communication, when you feel more anchored, which can help calm your nervous system, which includes your brain (obviously)
Well, how do you get into your body. Simple grounding exercises are a good way to get started.
Ground, soothing contact and body scans
When you “grind” yourself, you turn your attention to the places where your body comes into contact with the surfaces:
- Your feet on the floor
- The end and back of your thighs in a chair
- The back of your body on the floor or in bed
These become attorney for the ground or land. Therefore “grounding”.
You can do these exercises almost anywhere, anytime. I will age myself while sitting in my chair, sometimes as a precursor to a short meditation session. When one day it was very much, I could take out my yoga mat and stretch on the floor and imagine myself supported by the earth or even rooting on the ground.
Another way to draw your attention to your body is to tighten and relax your muscles. It is a reminder that you are here, in natural form – not just a floating head full of thoughts such as dive bees. You can also offer yourself a comforting touch with soft but firmly by placing your hands on the front of your thighs, your upper hands or your upper chest
You can also turn your attention and your natural senses to the world around you, observing and calling objects, textures, colors, smells or sounds.
Body scans are another way to get out of your head and body. There are various forms of body scurry, but essentially you place your attention a part of the body at a time, starting from the head or toes (your choice) and note what you feel there. Intensity; Tingling? Energy; Tightness; Softness; Contraction; Extensive? Warmth;
Note: If you have a history of physical or sexual trauma, you may not want to scan body without guidance. In general, grounding exercises are safe and beneficial to wound survivors because you are simply connecting to the natural world.
The call of earthing to nature
Research has found that even a 15 -minute walk to green spaces can reduce stress response, slowing our heart rate and reducing the levels of stress hormones circulating in our system. A 2019 study He found that spending at least two hours a week (120 minutes) in nature is linked to increasing life’s satisfaction and feelings of prosperity.
Walking can also be a grounding exercise. You can notice your feet by hitting the ground, the breeze or the sun feel on your skin, the sounds of the birds or leaves them rusty in the wind. By making a slow barefoot meditation on foot outside the grass or other safe surfaces can be a wonderful and literal grounding exercise. You could also stand, sit or put on the grass.
When you move more slowly, you notice more. One of my informal practices is to walk in my garden daily (even if I’m not really gardening) to admire and control every plant.
It’s not just the green space that is good for prosperity: Blue spaces are also strong de-stressers. Just looking at water – crushing waves, flowing rivers, wavy lakes – relaxes our minds. And research has shown that access to blue space can make us happier and more social.
One way to bring this home is to shower with care or swim. This can be so grounding because water is a natural element, and a way of deceleration and may be present. While I do some of my best thoughts in the shower, I also like to focus on how water feels on my skin. You can even visualize the trends of the day you wash or soak away.
The force of rest
Whether you do it or not, you know it’s important to sleep. But are you getting enough rest? Sleep and rest are not the same thing and they are not interchangeable.
If you feel worn or flirted with exhaustion, and you find it enigmatic because you get enough sleep, rest can be what your body and mind are longing for. Rest is a state of relaxation and leisure in which the body and mind are less active and anxious.
Grounding exercises and body scans are forms of rest. So is:
- Naps (if you are a napkin)
- Chat with a friend
- Enjoying a cup of coffee or tea
- Meditation or yoga
- Reading a good book or watch a show
- Listening to music or playing an instrument
- Playing a game or working a crossword puzzle
- Enjoying nature (I take periodic breaks during my working day to look at the window of my office in my front courtyard, which looks more and more like a Disney movie with all birds, squirrels and chipmunks.)
When we rest, the body has the opportunity to recharge that it is similar to sleep in some respects, except that we still wake up and realize. While we feel recharge, our body does not have the opportunity to undergo the same repair processes it does during sleep, because sleep is the only time that can be the brain completely.
We need both sleep and rest for physical and mental health, even if the reasons why they are slightly different.
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Hi, I am Carrie dennett; Mph, rdn, a weight-inclusive Registered Dietitian, Nutrition Therapist and body image consultant. I help adults of all ages, shapes, sizes and sexes who want to escape from disturbed food or chronic diet, Learn how to Manage IBS symptoms with food, or Improve their dietary and lifestyle habits to help manage A current health concern or just support them overall health and prosperity. This post is only for information purposes and is not a personalized diet or medical advice.
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