Today's theme is Exam Stress Buster.
TO START
Seated; breathing in through the nose, arms up, out through the mouth, arms down. Follow your breath with your movement. Connecting mind and body. Rpt x3
BREATHE
"Dirga" ladder breath: inhale 3 times in a row, long exhale. Rpt x3
Do you find your solar plexus feels tight and knotted when you're stressed? Massage area clockwise with the heel of your hand for a couple of minutes. Stand up, deep breath in through the nose, release through the mouth x 3. Allow the corners of your mouth to lift up.
When you're stressed your brain goes into fight/flight mode. Here are some moves which help to reset you into rest and digest mode, where you'll feel calmer and be able to remember more stuff.
YOGA
Seated cat cow - good release for the adrenals where your stress hormone, cortisol, resides.
Self massage - seated, make circles with your nose. Tip your head to the right and place gentle hand on opposite shoulder. Switch, rpt.
Twisted chair - "I am rooted"
Half SS + shrugs - "I am ready". Get the blood flowing
Inversion - handstand / WLFB / fold hand to feet on your chair - fresh oxygen to your brain!
Focus - Group pose, Dancer. Shake it out.
Partner chair pose - I am calm. We’re in this together
JOURNALLING
What calms you down? Share coping strategies with friends.
GUIDED RELAXATION
Lie down, rub hands to make them hot and place the palms over your eyes. Put a nice smelling salve on your wrists (optional). Breathe it in - nice long, deep breaths. Let go and surrender.
Guided Visualisation for exam success
Secret Whispers - commit to having only positive thoughts about your work, your skills and your life. Believe in you.