Tension. Unconscious tension, deeply rooted in the body, manifesting in small ways. Like your hands being clenched for no reason, or your shoulders rising up to your ears. Tension. We all have stress – I’ve never met anyone that doesn’t – but how we deal with it comes in as many flavors as ice cream.
If you think you’re relaxed but your body is showing evidence to the contrary (like I mentioned above), one of the best ways to dispel that unconscious tension is through breath. And you have to breathe anyway, so why not try it?
Deep breathing does a world of good for your body in multiple ways. Physiologically, a good, deep, full breath forces the intercostal muscles of the ribcage to expand, which in turn makes the overlying musculature of the back to loosen. On the exhale, your trapezius & supraspinatus muscles will open up and your shoulders will drop down a bit. Deep breathing helps oxygenate the blood and detoxifies the body; additionally, it sends a subtle signal to release low levels of endorphins, so you’ll feel better. The end result of a few deep breaths is an overall relaxing of the body and lessening of that unconscious tension.
Try this breathing exercise after an argument to help you calm down, or at night if you’re having trouble falling asleep. It’s a simple enough thing to do anywhere, anytime, and will benefit you endlessly.
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