Contributed by: Remi Kyek, MHC Chief Experience Officer
“Self Care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you” – Katie Reed
I think it is fair to say that the past several months have been challenging to each of us, in many different ways. We often become so caught up in the day to day navigation of the many changes in our lives, that we forget to practice self-care. This practice is central to maintaining both physical and mental health, yet quickly falls to the “bottom of the list.” There is great cultural pressure to keep pushing ourselves; ignoring the physical needs of our bodies and the emotional needs of our souls (Tello, 2017). This leads to anxiety, fatigue and changes us on a cellular level.
There are many ways to practice self-care including having enough rest, eating nutritious foods, exercising and connecting to others. But key to remember, is the importance of practicing deep breathing. When we are anxious, we tend to take shallow, inefficient breaths or at times even hold our breath. The art of breathing to relax works to reduce our heart rate, fully oxygenates the body, and clears the “noise” that plays like bad music in our minds.
Watch the below video from my MHC@Home Series workshop “Just Breathe” and follow along for 3 unique breathing techniques you can do at home.
#SelfcareSaturday
#31DaysofWellness
