Monday Me Time- Relax and Rejuvenate
Rejuvenate and Relax
Thanksgiving is a holiday for gratitude. It is turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. It is a time to celebrate and share with family and friends.
With this long weekend ahead of us, it is also a great time to take a moment to rejuvenate and relax. When we relax, the flow of blood increases around our body giving us more energy. It helps us to have a calmer and clearer mind which aids positive thinking, concentration, memory and decision making. Relaxation slows our heart rate, reduces our blood pressure and relieves tension.
Ways to try to relax + rejuvenate:
1) Soak in a warm bath - Studies have shown that taking a bath can activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which is the part of your body responsible for relaxation. As your nervous system adjusts to the warming effect of the water around you, you begin to experience lowered levels of stress.
2) Listen to soothing music - Music can have a profound effect on both the emotions and the body. Faster music can make you feel more alert and concentrate better. A slower tempo can quiet your mind and relax your muscles, making you feel soothed while releasing the stress of the day. Music is effective for relaxation
3) Participate in a yoga class - Yoga encourages mental and physical relaxation, which helps reduce stress and anxiety. The physical postures promote flexibility, relieve tension, and alleviate pain. Yoga poses may help you release physical blockages like muscle knots, helping release emotions and tension.
4) Try taking slow, deep breaths. Or try other breathing exercises for relaxation - Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. This is because when you breathe deeply, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. The brain then sends this message to your body.
5) Read a book- Reading can relax your body by lowering your heart rate and easing the tension in your muscles. A 2009 study at the University of Sussex found that reading can reduce stress by up to 68%. It works better and faster than other relaxation methods, such as listening to music or drinking a hot cup of tea.