Quiet often in our busy lives we forget about our bodies…Our bodies become tired, the immune system can go down, which can result in common colds, flues, and even food sensitivities and allergies. Our bodies tend to “shut down” when they are under constant stress and we don’t give them proper recovery. So what can we do? Changing the pace of life can seem like a very difficult, if not an impossible, task for many. And, indeed, it might take lots of time and grandiose changes in your lifestyle to do that… Not all of us are ready for that. At least, not yet… Hence, here we present some of the tips to help your body de-stress, relax, and rejuvenate. Hope you find them useful!

• BREATH. So often we forget to breath properly! Our breath can become shallow under stress, which can impact our body and mind. This can eventually result in even more stress and, sometimes, even anxiety and panic attack. One simple solution when you become aware of the fast pace of your breathing is to take at lest 3-5 long deep breaths from your stomach. This simple exercise can overtime help you stabilize your breathing. Just always remember to come back to this technique whenever you feel stressed – it can dramatically decrease stress levels.

•  BE MINDFUL. One of the things about mindfulness is being aware of your feelings and thoughts, as well as bodily sensations. When you are more mindful of your body and emotions, you get a better perspective on your health and wellbeing, and have a better chance of making the right decisions for your overall wellness. For instance, once you feel that your body is exhausted (which, unfortunately, due to stress not all of us can immediately sense), you can take a break – maybe go for a walk in nature, nap, meditate. If you are able to quickly and effectively respond to your body’s needs, your productivity and wellbeing is likely to improve. In order to get more mindful, you only need to start doing simple exercises, such as stop for a while and notice your thoughts, emotions, and feelings. It takes only a few minutes, but can save you hours, days, or in some cases even weeks of feeling weak, ill, and exhausted.

• BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF. Quiet often we hear this phrase at yoga classes. But what does it actually mean? In yoga, it could mean not straining your body too much and not pushing too hard. It is all about the balance –  finding the spot where you feel resistance or strength, but not discomfort or pain. Some of the great yogis talk about exercising till the “first sweat” (which might mean till you start feeling the strain in the muscles), but not further. Balance of strength and relaxation is one of the most important things in our lives. Nowadays, gyms are very popular for  fitness and staying in shape, however, for some people it can turn into obsession. Not being able to stop can seriously deplete your body of strength and lead to weakened immune system. Knowing and respecting your fitness regime as well as your relaxation routine can bring you lots of inner strength, stability, health, and overall wellness.

• EAT WHAT YOU NEED. So often nowadays we see and hear everywhere the promises of the new diets: Paleo, Vegan, Raw, Macrobiotics, Gluten-free, Dairy-free… It seems like we are surrounded by warnings and restrictions all the time about what we are told is “good” for us, and what is “bad”, quiet often without any scientific backup to it. Following some diets can lead us to very strict restrictions on our bodies, and quiet often it can result in our bodies not being able to get the nutrients needed. Indeed, many people seem to get to a diet via their heads – maybe, after reading an article on internet, talking to a friend, or just looking at a picture of a beautiful person who follows that particular diet… Our minds then dictate what we can eat and what we can’t, which can also result in food sensitivities and intolerances. Our bodies are very smart and complex mechanisms, aimed at bringing inner balance. Quiet often they can tell you what they need if you are mindful and listen carefully. But once we stop listening to our bodies and focus more on reasons and thoughts, our bodies can react by creating disbalances. I think that all the diets above can be good for some people at some point in their lives, however, they should be approached with caution. Instead of reading about the diets and trying to incorporate them intellectually, try to listen more to your body more and come to the diet (or certain food) intuitively with your body senses. You body will feel more grateful for this, and the decision to change your eating habits will be a much wholesome one.

• GO OUT INTO NATURE! Nature has a very strong healing potential – you can feel it even after spending a few hours in the woods. Whenever I feel very tired or just emotionally depleated, I try to get into nature – it can be as simple as going into a garden, but, preferably, the quiet woods or a place in the wild. I then sit quietly, put my bare feet on the ground for grounding, and stay quietly observing the nature around, or meditating. I often feel much rejuvenated and energized afterwards – it seems my energy starts flowing faster in my body. It also gives me a sense of being connected to everything around me, which is, I believe, an ultimate source of strength and wellbeing.

Do you have your body routine, or any exercises, practices, you do to rejuvenate your body? Do you find them helpful?

We would love to hear your thoughts!