I’ve had a lovely week on holiday with Scott, which included visiting my parents and spending a few nights away in a beautiful Perthshire village, not far from home. Whilst there, we both had a massage. For weeks, I have had tension and knots in my neck and shoulders. I had thought it would lift once I finished work and closed my laptop. Surprisingly, it didn’t work.
Over a number of months, the tension has been building in my body, and I have been doing as much as I thought to help lift it. Clearly I have not. Booking a massage I had high hopes this would help to clear my neck and shoulder aches. For an hour my massage therapist worked on those knots, they were popping and crunching and moving as she worked with firm pressure to undo them. It was a release throughout, over the next few days, my muscles ached in a positive way.
However, although the massage has definitely helped ease the tension, it has not fully gone.
Whilst I still have a few days left before heading back to work. I am going to try a few things as well as take steps going forward to reduce or remove the constant tight neck and shoulders.
If you are like me and sitting with tension in your body. Try the following to see if it helps to lift or reduce it:
Yoga – it could be a daily practice or a one off, but find a yoga session focusing on your neck and shoulders or wherever else you are holding the tension. You want to be able to loosen your muscles and relax. If you are following a session online or doing your own practice, ensure you spend some time in savasana and do your best to let go of all the tension.
Meditation – There are many available for free online and if you aren’t sure where to start, then do a guided meditation. Combine this with yoga and do whilst lying in savasana or if you prefer, separately. There are many sessions you can choose in varying lengths. Find one to suit the time of day and mood you are in. If you are trying to sleep, ensure you choose one that will help you drift off, or if you are starting your day, find one that will uplift you and move you on with your day.
Walking or Running – I always find walking can help to ease tension and over the weeks I have been doing less of this as I tried to get to a good place with work. A daily walk has many benefits, and can help to loosen the tension from your body. Step it out, swing your arms and get moving. Or if you prefer to run, then pound those pavements and run for as long as you wish.
Aromatherapy – To help ease tension and reduce stress, put a 3-4 drops of lavender and neroli or bergamot essential oil into a vaporiser or onto a tissue and inhale. Lavender is a great for relaxation and worry whilst neroli and bergamot are brilliant essential oils for helping to combat stress. Put the vaporiser on whilst meditating or doing yoga and breath in the beautiful scent and feel the tension and stress melt away. Ok, so it may not happen instantly, but do it regularly and it will certainly help.
Massage – This is something you can do as often as you wish, but likely not something you would do daily. Be kind to yourself and indulge in this self care treatment regularly. It works great to help work out tension and of course relax you. Depending on what type of massage you book will depend on what they do, but you can get an aromatherapy massage, bamboo massage and hot stones, which are all good to help with stress and tension. Have a look at what is available locally and keep an eye out for deals which often happen at the change of seasons.
Self neck massage – If you are feeling tension in your neck, tip your neck forward and place both hands on the back of your neck. Slowly using your fingertips, massage in circles from the top of your shoulders and base of your neck up to your hairline and repeat.
Drink herbal tea – Camomile tea is great to help you relax and a good one to have before bed. Drink daily and if you can throughout your work day.
Bath – Have a relaxing bath and use the essential oils mentioned above, swirl them in the water and breath in the beautiful aroma. Ease away your tension. Why not read a book at the same time and just fully immerse yourself in the water as well as the story.
Listen to relaxing music – Lie on your bed, relax and put on some easy listening or spa music and breathe slowly and deeply.
Read – lose yourself in a story and relax. Pick your favourite genre and forget about the time.
One of the most important things to do is to find out what is causing your tension and stress to begin with and see what you can do to alleviate it. Continuing on the same path, isn’t good or sustainable. Take steps to reduce the stress causing your tension. Be kind to yourself and do what you can each day to ensure your body is tension free. Life is to be enjoyed, it shouldn’t be stressful all the time.
Thank you for reading and have a lovely day.
Look after you and do what you can to ease your tension.
Love Emma xx
Wellbeing with Relaxing Lavender 