Is Stress Getting to You? Bodywork may help, and you can do it yourself at home!
Acupressure
Acupressure is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that may provide temporary relief from anxiety symptoms.
Make yourself comfortable and breathe deeply while working on these areas:
- Apply circular pressure at the midpoint between your eyebrows.
- Apply circular pressure at the upper shell of the ear at the tip of the triangle shaped hollow
- Squeeze your shoulder muscles (trapezius) with thumb and fingers
- Massage the area on the webbing between your thumb and index finger
- Massage the area 2-3 inches below the intersection of your big and second toes
- Massage three finger widths below the inner wrist
Self-massage
Use a foam roller, or rolled up yoga mat in a pinch, and a tennis ball.
Loosen your neck.
Lie on your back, resting your neck on the foam roller. The roller should be perpendicular to your body. Slowly move your head from side to side until the foam roller rolls over the neck muscles where there are sore trigger points. Do not apply more than the natural pressure of your body.
Relax your thighs.
Sit on the floor with the foam roller under your thigh. Plant your left foot on the floor with your knee bent. Place your palms flat on the floor. Use your arms to lift your body and glide over the foam roller to massage the muscles from your glute to the back of your knee. Repeat with the other leg.
Soothe your hip muscles.
Lie on your side with the foam roller under your hip. Prop yourself up with your elbow as your glide over the roller along your outer thigh.
Relieve your feet.
Sit in chair and put a tennis ball under your foot. Exert gentle pressure and roll the ball around slowly to relax all areas of your foot.
Release back tension.
Stand against a wall and put the tennis ball between the wall and your back at a point where you feel tightness. Do not put the tennis ball directly on your spine. Push the ball against that area and bend and straighten your knees to roll the ball around your back and release the different areas.
Relax your hands.
Stretch your palm out in front of you, and hold your fingers back with the opposite hand for five seconds. Repeat on the other hand. Press your palms together at your chest, then lower towards your lap until you feel a stretch. Hold for five seconds.
