Stepping Out of the Tension Trap
When we go about our daily lives without conscious awareness of
how things are affecting us physically, mentally and
emotionally, then we are experiencing stress and tension in a
way similar to white noise. It's there, but we're not actively
aware of it. It's irritating us, but we're not quite sure where
or how. We can begin to free ourselves from tension by tuning in
to this "white noise" and then making some simple adjustments.
Becoming Energy Efficient
If you furrow your brow when reading or concentrating, grip the
steering wheel tightly when driving, or hunch your shoulders
when sitting at the computer, you are exhibiting physical
tension of the kind that burns your energy reserves and can lead
to physical discomfort.
The ancient Eastern traditions of soft martial arts, such as tai
chi, teach that there is a way to use the body to perform any
physical activity in an actively relaxed state. Texts on the
nature and flow of vital energy in the human body encourage us
to explore how we move and work and to find a way of using our
bodies in a flexible way that has stability, but not rigidity.
It is when we become stiff and rigid that tension builds and we
become achy and tired as a direct result.
It doesn't need to take time, or get complicated. It's simply a
matter of becoming aware of how you do things, and then seeing
how you can adjust to do them with minimal physical effort and
strain.
Here are three simple steps to releasing tension modelled on the
ancient art of active relaxation:
1. Get Conscious The first step in reducing tension is to become
consciously aware of it. Once you've done that, you can begin to
do something about it. Practice mentally scanning your body
regularly throughout the day and you will begin got notice key
areas affected by tension.
2. Notice and Stretch Now you've found the areas where tension
strikes in you, take a deep slow breath and stretch them out.
Adjust your posture and see if you can find a way to get more
comfortable.
3. Play the Lightest Possible Touch Game How lightly can you
hold the wheel of your car when driving, and still feel
perfectly safe and in control? How lightly can you hold the
phone, a pencil, or a knife when you are cooking? Tension makes
us grip things tightly. We don't need to.
Tension is the underlying cause of most physical pain. Simply
put, if we can reduce tension, we can reduce pain. It may take
some practice and perseverance, but the rewards are quickly felt
and well worth having.
Check point: Remember to check in on your neck and shoulders
regularly. Give them a stretch and see if you can drop and relax
your shoulders while working. Many of us hunch over our desks
and end the day feeling unnecessarily achy as a direct result.