Twenty years working in corporate jobs meant finding creative ways to come back to a moment of peace within.
So what was the antidote to the demand and relentless deadlines?
Drum roll please… it was ‘the bathroom breath’. Ha ha! Seriously!
I’d simply close the toilet cubicle door, shut my eyes and breathe for a minute or two – hoping no lingering smells would affect the experience!
I made a little video about it HERE.
The bathroom breath can certainly help reduce stress. But of course, looking at your job and seeing if there is a better way to manage its demands is also a good idea. Our bodies are so intelligent! Mine was sending me many signs before I got sick. I wish I had listened sooner.
There are many other ways to reduce stress in your day, and these are what works best for me:
- Getting out at lunchtime for a walk and spending time in nature
- Finding a park, taking my shoes off and feeling the grass under my feet
- Feeling the sun on my face and the breeze on my skin
- When no one was looking, I’d sometimes close my eyes and take a conscious breath at my desk – deep into the belly and then release the breath along with the stress!
- If only I knew about mudras back then! I would have used ‘Hakini mudra’ discreetly throughout the day. It’s one of my favourite mudras, as it’s so calming. But it also helps you focus. Perfect for when you’re in the thick of a busy work day!
Stress is no good for our bodies!
So how do we manage it?
In one particular job I sometimes worked 18-hour days. It was in that role my health started to deteriorate. We all know stress is no good for our bodies. Countless scientific studies prove it. Stress has so many flow-on effects. The bathroom breath can certainly help reduce stress. But of course, looking at your job and seeing if there is a better way to manage its demands is also a good idea. Our bodies are so intelligent! Mine was sending me many signs before I got sick. I wish I had listened sooner.
Dr Aditi Nerukar has written a brilliant book on how to ‘Rewire Your Brain and Body for Less Stress and More Resilience’. It’s called ‘The 5 Resets’. She provides really easy and simple ways to implement deep change and reasons why we need to look at stress in our life.
I love what she says about stress in her recent Popsugar article:
‘The mind-body connection is the basic understanding that your brain and body are in constant communication and inextricably linked. What’s good for your body is good for your brain and vice versa. It’s working even when you’re not aware of it. For example, you’re presenting at work and you’re nervous, so your heart starts beating fast. Or, you’re hanging out with a bunch of people and you say something embarrassing, and your face gets red and hot. Once you’re aware of the mind-body connection, you can actually tap into and influence it to help decrease your stress and burnout.’
It’s good to remember that stress is also a normal and unavoidable part of life. That’s why having a toolkit of simple practices, can be so powerful in changing your energy and bringing you back to a place of peace within.
I’d love to hear how you incorporate ways to combat stress in your day. Please share in the comments below.
Love and mudras,
I’d love to hear how you incorporate ways to combat stress in your day. Please share in the comments below.
Learn more about mudras:
- My blog post on ‘What are Mudras?’
- My blog post on ‘Energy in your Hands’
- My blog post on ‘How do Mudras Work?’
- Sign up to my newsletter
Please note: mudras are simple ancient tools for exploring energies of heart, mind and body and are not presented here as an alternative to professional medical advice.
