nervous system snack: shake it up to move excess stress & stagnation
“although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.
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Believe it or not, sometimes your yoga mat isn’t the best place to release sky-high stress, unrelenting anxiety, or pent-up energy.
When our emotions are whipped up into a frenzy and we need a shift—like, right now—we can let ourselves land and begin to move our stagnant energy by feeling our feet on the ground and…
Shaking it off.
It's long been known that animals can be observed shaking to release tension and stress. Perhaps you've seen your dog shake it off after crossing paths with a furry neighborhood rival, or you’ve spotted a duck have a good shake at the park.
We too can use “shaking" or bouncing to release stress or pent-up energy.
In fact, "shaking" is a tried-and-true, well researched technique now recommended by many trauma therapists. (It was made popular by Dr. Peter Levine, who developed Somatic Experiencing, a body-based therapy process to release trauma.)
Shaking (or vibrating) is a simple, portable, and empowering way to regulate and calm our nervous system. It has been shown to release muscular tension, burn excess adrenaline, and support our nervous system’s return to a neutral state—all of which help us to manage stress levels and move stagnant energy in the body.
It is a simple practice: shaking can be done standing or seated. And you can do it with the whole body or even just parts of the body, such as the arms and hands.
I personally have always used this tool and technique… but this summer I’ve been shaking it out Every. Single. day.
My favorite go-to “shake” is doing it on my rebounder for 1-5 minutes. But you can actually experience relief with this technique in as little as 30 seconds or 1 minute, anywhere anytime.
I highly encourage you to give it a try today, and anytime you need it.
Shake It Off: 8-Minute Practice
Below I’d love to share an 8-minute somatic shaking practice that will help us shift our energy to reset and begin again. It also includes tapping. This is a great practice because while it will help diffuse “big” stress and tension, it will also infuse you with easeful energy that makes you feel alert. It’s designed to be done standing but you could also practice it seated.
Remember: After you shake, feel your feet on the ground, and take a big sigh-like exhale followed by a few more “natural” breaths. Then just notice how you feel.
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.
