Reduce your stress & Take time out for self-care daily Any form of stress creates an imbalance within our system. In fact, any change in our lifestyle is a form of stress. What is important is our ability to adapt and bounce back quickly which is why learning deep relaxation techniques are helpful in restoring the body’s vital essence. • Release tension daily. Even mild life disturbances can build up if you don’t deal with them. • Don’t build up stress like a pressure cooker! Release the steam daily with this breathing technique to release tension and restore your inner body balance. • Practice this abdominal breathing technique 2x per day for 5 minutes either sitting on lying down in a comfortable position. ◦ Inhale through your nose to a count of 5 and exhale through a large imaginary straw (through your lips) on a count of 5. You’re on your way… Once you are aware of what is going on in your body and learn to sense an imbalance or disturbance, you can practice various techniques to release daily irritations before they accumulate and reveal more serious signals or health concerns. Believe it or not, true relaxation needs to be practiced. Achieving deeper states of well-being is more than just collapsing on the couch! We can train our brains and our mind to remain steady and calm no matter what storm is going on in our life. Sitting on the couch watching a moving can be enjoyable however we also need to teach our bodies how to move into deeper states of relaxation where the body heals more quickly. Slow, deep abdominal breathing is one way to take your stress down a few notches. Find more techniques for relaxation and meditation in our full Mend my Back Program. Be well. Better backs for life, Laura and Ian