Take 5: A Stress Break

I will be the first in line to inform you of the benefits of a 60 minute massage treatment. However, what if your massage is not scheduled for another week or worse, not even scheduled? Well, as a firm believer and trumpeter of self-care, here is a pretty neat trick that will bring you back to center in about 5 minutes.

No matter if you are getting a massage regularly, meditating or hitting a heavy bag, stress creeps into everyone’s lives. There is a certain amount of stress that is actually considered a healthy and necessary component for optimal health. Stress is what puts our body and mind ‘on-notice’. It can help us to efficiently and effectively complete a task that without the increase in cortisol levels, our reaction time and cognitive function to complete these situations would be lessened. On the other hand (no pun intended), too much stress can cloud the way we perform and think, making even the simplest of situations seem like life or death. When the stress has got you cornered, try this ancient Japanese technique.

To balance the life energy in the body, grasp the finger with the opposite hand, wrapping all the fingers and thumb around it. Hold each finger for one to two minutes. You will know it’s working when a pulsating sensation is felt.

To calm your mind, apply slight pressure in the center of the palm with the thumb of the opposite hand and hold for at least one minute. Practice this technique every day to stay calm and re-establish the balance within yourself.