Releasing Body Tension

Take Deep Breaths

• Benefits: Deep breathing helps relax your body and mind, helps to de-stress, can help to improve immunity, and increases energy and focus
• There are multiple breathing techniques; one of the most popular ones is the 4-7-8 technique. ( Check out the video below on a how-to guide)
  • You inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds and exhale for 8. (Trust us, it’s is extremely relaxing!)
  • Tip: When breathing, try to turn on some meditating music and focus on your breathing.
    • View our “Video Library: Mindfulness” post for relaxing guided breathing exercises videos and or our Minimag: Music for Wellbeing post for relaxing ambient music to play in the background.

Go For a Walk:

• Benefits: Going for a walk can help you take a break, move and unwind your body, promote creativity, boost mood, release endorphins, and increase Vitamin D levels in your body
• You can walk at your own pace, and it does not have to be a long distance. A stroll around your block will suffice.
• With nice weather coming up, this can be done around your neighborhood.
  • This can lead to you exploring new restaurants, shops, and cool sports around where you live! Just don’t forget your mask.

Stretch/ Do Some Yoga

• Benefits: Stretching has a lot of benefits on your joints, helps relieve sore muscles, promotes good posture, increases blood flow to muscles, and helps relax your mind and body.
• No equipment is needed and can be done from home. However, for comfort, we recommend using a towel or mat when doing yoga.
• It is recommended that you incorporate stretching in your daily routine (before sleeping or after waking up)
• Here are a few exercises that can be done to stretch various parts of your body.
  • https://www.self.com/gallery/relaxing-exercises
  • Tip: Check out our “Try Something New: Yoga” post for more tips and videos.

Take a Bath or an Epson Salt Bath

• Benefits: Baths are super relaxing and soothing. It is really good to relax sore muscles, sprains, and stiff joints.
• You can also try an Epson salt bath. Epson salt is made out of magnesium sulfate. Magnesium is good for muscle and nerve function, as well as maintaining a healthy immune system.
  • How to use Epson Salt:  If you have a bathtub, fill up the bathtub, and add two cups of Epson Salt. Soak in for 20 minutes. Voila!
  • Epson Salt is relatively affordable and can be found at Target, Walmart, and local stores. However, we recommend, when possible try to shop local and support small businesses.
    • Here is a link to an 8 lbs bag for $4.99: https://www.target.com/p/epsom-salt-8lb-up-38-up-8482/-/A-51521118?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&DFA=71700000049427611&CPNG=PLA_Health%2BShopping_Local&adgroup=SC_Health&LID=700000001170770pgs&LNM=PRODUCT_GROUP&network=g&device=c&location=9021744&targetid=pla-332572133699&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1248099&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0caCBhCIARIsAGAfuMwz-ndy2mvW8KQcz4cF6mF2wTWSxlDBZ00sUzgly7PD2VKSeQMzT7waAvxTEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Get a Massage/ Give Yourself a Massage

• Benefits: Full body massage can help with a tense body, reduced muscle tension, improve circulation, stimulation of the lymphatic system, reduction of stress hormones, relaxation, increased joint mobility and flexibility, improved skin tone, improved recovery of soft tissue injuries, it can also help improve circulations and increase mobility/ flexibility.
• You can give yourself a self-massage and or try and convince your partner, sibling, friend to give you a back rub, foot rub, and or hand massage. Look below for videos on guided self-massages.
• Or you can check out the UIC Rec Center, where they offer massages at discounted rates for UIC Students:
  • 30 minutes for $35, 60 minutes for $55, and 90 minutes for $73
  • Link to UIC Rec massages: https://recreation.uic.edu/fitness-wellness/massage-therapy/

Look below for your very own video library on releasing body tension.

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