4 skills to help us release tension (plus: free gift: a nourishing self-care restorative yoga practice)
It’s common to experience a gnawing sense of tension in these paradoxical times.
Most of us believe that the way to relax is to step away from our lives. To retreat to the sofa and zone out. However, doom-scrolling and Netflixing don’t address the long-held tension in our body—tension that when left unaddressed can create very real physical and mental distress.
Releasing tension is the act of consciously making space for whatever it is we're holding.
Making space is not complicated, but it's not something most of us are used to. In fact, we're used to doing the opposite, contracting and protecting. So, making space is a skill we must practice.
There are a few essential components to releasing tension:
🩷 we need to feel safe and grounded
🩷 we need to be present enough to notice where our tension is
🩷 we need to allow what arises and not add on
🩷 and we need to do all of this in such a gentle, kind, friendly way so our body and mind feel like it's all okay.
In my 30 years of practicing and teaching yoga, I’ve learned that restorative yoga is one of the best methods for creating space and unwinding tension.
free gift practice offering to you…
& all the nurturing beings in your life
My practice is truly one of the greatest gifts I give myself, especially in times of transition or busyness that lead to tension. And this 50-minute Nourishing Restorative Yoga Practice for Self-Care is one of my favorites.
I invite you to practice with loved ones or share it with someone who has been a nurturing figure in your life.
We'll begin with simple movements to free your spine and expand your breath, followed by a supported Fish Pose and a supported Savasana. This practice will gently enhance circulation, promote lymph drainage, nourish your respiratory system, balance your energy, and create a sense of space in your heart, both physically and emotionally. Use it on its own anytime or pair it with a longer, more active practice, or a meditation.