Certain relaxation techniques can help us return to a parasympathetic, rest-and-digest, state. “Relaxation techniques reset and reboot the nervous system so people can feel good within their own bodies and shut down racing thoughts,” Roseann Capanna-Hodge, M.D., an integrative mental health expert, tells mbg. Learning how to curb stress responses before or when they happen can improve your quality of life. The key is turning relaxation into a practice. “Relaxation techniques only calm the brain when you do them consistently, and that means taking 10 minutes or more every day to intentionally practice them,” says Capanna-Hodge. “Relaxation is your body’s way of combating those stress hormones,” says Andreas Michaelides, Ph.D., chief of psychology at Noom. Being in a state of relaxation decreases your heart rate, clears your mind, and loosens the tension in the body. Putting your energy into developing healthier coping mechanisms for the stress that enters your life will help you live rather than simply exist. Here are eight relaxation techniques supported by experts. Brown notes, “If [you’re] uncomfortable with silence or being still, [you] probably shouldn’t choose meditation or any kind of technique where noise isn’t involved.” “In a time when we are so disconnected and distracted by devices and choose to avoid uncomfortable situations,” starts Capanna-Hodge, “it’s a tool that builds resiliency within the mind and helps people cope with stressors instead of avoiding them.” The slower, the better is a good rule of thumb. Restorative yoga, dance, and mobility training are a few of many somatic movements that release the tension in your body. Some other physical tools that can help you manage your stress include herbal supplements like ashwagandha, a luxurious personal care product that brings you back to your senses, or a spiritual card deck that allows you to release control.* With these tools and techniques on hand, the next time a stressful period comes along, you’ll be ready for it. With a unique view on life, she taps into her own experiences to guide folks to live life for themselves, empowering them to explore their inner wild and find their own way in adulthood. Her weekly newsletter is a tiny way she furthers her mission to hold space for the unfathomable, romantic, and messy parts of life that make it that much more beautiful.
