What do you do when you’re hurting? Do you tense up your shoulders, hands, face as you lean forward to prepare for the pain you know will come when you move? We all do it. When this becomes a regular pattern, this increases activity in your nervous system and can be magnifying the pain you are experiencing. The first step to breaking this pattern is to recognize that it’s happening. Deep breathing can be a very effective method of relaxing tense muscles and quieting your nervous system.
Let’s try a few breaths together, lie down, close your eyes and imagine the base of your rib cage opening like an umbrella as you breathe in. Allow that umbrella to collapse down as you exhale through your mouth. Repeat this cycle 10 times and practice softening the muscles of your forehead, jaw, shoulders, fingers, your glutes, thighs and toes. Congratulations, you just helped settle your nervous system down which will help you to experience less pain!
