In times like these, it is important that you know how to relax yourself. It doesn’t only put your mind at ease, like we talked about last week, but it also helps your body to enhance it’s natural recovery systems. Which is much needed, giving the circumstances.
Why is finding ways to relax important?
When we operate in our daily lives, our brainwaves are faster than when we are, for example, resting or asleep. Makes sense, right?
Brainwaves are thought of as a spectrum of our consciousness. The higher the brainwaves, the more alert we are. And the lower the frequency, the more relaxed we are.
When they really are a product of neurons communicating with each other in our brain, brainwaves change according to what we’re doing and feeling.
The most known brainwaves are
- delta waves: generated in deepest meditation and dreamless sleep. Healing and regeneration of our body is stimulated in this state.
- theta waves: occur often in sleep, but also in deep meditation. Thought to be the gateway to learning, memory and intuition. Takes place right before we fall asleep or wake up for a very brief moment. State in which our senses are focused on signals from within.
- alpha waves: dominant when feeling present, being here, and in some meditative states. This is the resting state of the brain aiding calmness, learning and mind/body integration.
- beta waves: dominant when we are fully awake and our focus is towards the outside world and when activity and alertness is needed. It’s the attentive, engaged state.
- gamma waves: fastest brainwaves related to simultaneous processing of information from different brain areas. It is speculated that a greater presence of gamma relates to increased consciousness.
If we use most of the wake time fear mongering and in alertness, there is no room for our brain, and body, to recover from the constant burdening.
For a short while, it’s ok. But in longer term, if not released, it’s harming us health and other wise.
So, if you already have a relaxation and stress release routine, amp it up for the time being.
If not, incorporate this simple breathing exercise into your daily morning or evening routines (or both):
Breath in by counting to three. Breath out by counting to five.
You’re free to modify the length of the inhale and exhale, yet the point is, that your inhale is shorter than your exhale. When so, your brain sends a message to your body to relax.
Something for you to try this week:
Whenever faced with overwhelming feelings like fear, anxiety, frustration or helplessness, take a short meditative moment for the breathing exercise. Do it for just a few rounds, before moving on with whatever you were doing.
I’m sure you notice a difference and are able to be of better service again.
Much love,
Paula
xx
PS. Free webinar for sport coaches (in Finnish)
The wellbeing of coaches is a subject very close to my heart, for obvious reasons. Now, together with two colleagues, we’ve developed a coaching program that offers tools, structure and community for sport coaches to lead and manage their own wellbeing successfully and in a way that it enables them to thrive in all areas of their lives, not just professionally.
We had our first free webinar, with plenty of valuable content, last month, and as it got such an encouraging reception, we’re now running another one on March 17th, 2022 at 1pm EET.
If you’d like to join, here’s the to a short preliminary questionnaire with possibility to sign up:
In case you know someone who’s likely to benefit from this, feel free to share the link within your network. The webinar will be held only in Finnish, for the time being.
For more information about the webinar, click here.