Most of us at some time have suffered from stress. It can have many effects on the body such as Stomach aches, digestive issues, back pain, muscle tension, the list goes on.
It can be our lifestyle that's causing us STRESS.
The powerful relationship between stress and pain cannot be ignored.
The effect of stress on the body, whether it be a stressful day at the office or tension at home, can be a massive contraction of the muscles of the body.
The body responds to this with a hormonal response called “fight or flight”. This is when the body instinctively readies itself for action.
The problem is not with the initial surge of adrenaline or the initial contraction of the muscles. The problem occurs when the muscle contraction prompted by stress does not stop, even after the stressful situation has passed. In other words, you may have achieved your deadline at work and got the kids out of the house and to school on time, but your muscles in your back or elsewhere are still contracting.
Chronic muscular contraction is painful because once the fuel that the muscles needs has burned up (glycogen) from the muscles' constant use, acids build up around nerves, the muscle becomes exhausted, and no fresh blood, oxygen, or nutrients can get to it. The muscle becomes starved resulting in pain and weakness.
So we need to recognise the emotional stress in our lives and learn how to deal with it:
Identify the people and situations that tend to bother you and if possible try and avoid them. Although this may not be possible, in reality, some people and situations can not be avoided, such as rush hour traffic, nasty boss, or work deadlines. It's all part of everyday life.
The next best thing to total avoidance is learning to anticipate these situations ahead of time and making a conscious decision not to let them bother you.
At the end of any stressful day take a few minutes and find a quiet place and close your eyes; listen to some relaxing music, breathe slowly and deeply and imagine yourself somewhere warm and relaxing.
And, do Pilates.
Pilates can be incredibly powerful in providing a place for the body to relax, rejuvenate and release tension. It also provides a space for the mind to focus on the present moment, leaving worries at the door.
Pilates is a form of mindful movement.
Pilates forces you to move slowly and with intention. Bringing your awareness to your body as it moves and how it feels in the moment.
Practising Pilates can make you more present, which can help you manage stress more effectively. To get these benefits, however, it’s important you practice regularly.
Try the exercise below and see how you go
