nervous system snack: create space & feel more grounded ✨
“tension is who you think you should be. relaxation is who you are.
”
For most of us, it’s draining—or even debilitating—to live in a body that’s holding tension, responding to emotional triggers in ways that sabotage our health and well-being.
Yet sometimes our tension is serving a purpose. Frankly, we might feel a little attached to it.
At first, releasing tension was nerve-racking for me. Who will I be if I let down my guard and see what’s underneath all my armor? If I don’t cling to my “strength,” what will be left for me?
I want to assure you that it’s far more exhausting to live in armor than it is to discover how to truly relax.
Through my daily practice for over two decades, I’ve discovered that my practice doesn’t only happen on my mat; it begins when I step off my mat and into my day.
When I start to release tension, I see the results in my life almost immediately. Dissolving tension can create space that builds the resources and capacity to process emotional challenges.
The more I practice to train my relaxation response—so I am able to pause and choose my response, rather than react from stress and habit—the more I can face roadblocks, challenges, and even joy from a place of presence, connection, and compassion.
The good news is that you don’t have to spend hours practicing to train your nervous system. Consistently doing micro-practices can make a big difference.
progressive relaxation: 8-minute squeeze-and-release
I’d love to share with you this short yet potent practice to help you feel more grounded, spacious, calm, and open. And you can do it in less than 10 minutes! In this progressive relaxation practice, we’ll squeeze one muscle at a time and then release our weight into the ground.
May this practice bring you ease.
nervous system practices
As a reminder, my new practice series focuses on 25-minute nervous system practices to support the psoas, vagus nerve, and diaphragm. You'll dive into the “anatomy” of rest and digest and work with stress and relaxation. Learn more here.
