The American Psychological Association calls stress a national mental health crisis, after the members of our already stressed-out societies have been pushed to their limits following the pandemic [1]. Because of the significant increase in chronic stress levels over recent years, reducing its effects has become a top priority for wellness providers and clients alike [2].

Stress-reduction interventions are typically focused on supporting the mental and emotional aspects of stress. For instance, mental health professionals most often help their clients to train the mind, regulate emotional responses, and schedule brain breaks. These methods are used frequently because they are effective. However, although the mind-body connection has been well-established in research, body-focused stress reduction techniques are under utilized [2].

Said another way, if we want to become less stressed out as a society, we are going to have to bring body-work into the conversation much more often.

Physical techniques like the one you're about to practice today can help to switch the body from fight-or-flight mode to relax-and-restore mode, leaving you feeling balanced, energized, and grounded.

References

1. American Psychological Association. (2020, October). Stress in America 2020: A national mental health crisis [Press Release].

2. Vanderhasselt, M.A., Ottaviani, C. (2022). Combining top-down and bottom-up interventions targeting the vagus nerve to increase resilience. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 132, 725-729.