"Health is about behaviors and habits that you practice to become better, if you don't do what you can to take care of your health, you won't be ready to face challenges"
-Jason Worsland, Founder and Head of Health at Therabody.
We are often told that the key to controlling stress is exercise, meditation and getting enough sleep at night ... The list goes on. It's important to remember that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to relieving stress. Soothing the mind starts with taking care of your physical health... Ask yourself what your needs are to find the best solution for you.
Dr. Jason. Says "If you take more care of yourself and get to the depths of it, you'll start to figure out what your body needs," Here are some other things we learned when we talked to him about stress.
Every day we hear a new story about how to manage stress. How to deal with this challenge?
A lot of people will tell you to drink this, do it, exercise five times a week... But it all starts from within, when you stop and start asking yourself about your needs. All of these suggestions may be unnecessary, ineffective, or just act as an aid, potentially distracting you from figuring out what you need most.
How has your philosophy about health helped you manage stress?
What I've learned is that when your body is healthy, it's ready to withstand life's unexpected stressors and circumstances. If you're not at your best, it's hard for your body to function adequately. Prevention is the foundation of health; you keep your body to do the things you want in life.
For me, health is about behaviors and habits that you practice becoming better, If you don't do what you can to take care of your health, such as reading, meditating, eating healthy, and exercising, you won't be ready to take on challenges.
For many people, starting a wellness journey is the most difficult part. Do you have any advice on how to get started?
Set aside two minutes twice a day and communicate with yourself, as this is key to good health.
Here's one of my secrets I give you as a tip: wake up 30 minutes before your usual waking time each morning and write down your intentions regarding your health.
For me, intention is everything; if we are not clear with ourselves first about what we want, we will not be able to find the best solutions to take care of ourselves.
What can you tell us about stress and its relationship to physical health?
Your body practices adaptive ways of masking stress in certain areas which is why rhythmic therapy is so powerful. It's a way you can connect with your body for a while to find points you may not have realized were causing stress. For example, the shoulders and neck are common areas where we store tension, but they can dwell in unexpected places as well, such as the quadriceps and legs.
An easy way to tell if you're experiencing stress without realizing it is to have a full body scan with a Theragun device.
Glide the device twice a day for two minutes over your body starting from your feet up. Then repeat the same method on the other side and stop at any area where you feel pain.
Are there steps applied with Theragon to help relieve stress?
When you go through a difficult experience, neurological symptoms begin to appear, which leads to different reactions that make things more difficult. On the contrary, the sympathetic nervous system is what helps the body relax. I prefer to use Theragun on both sides of my body for one minute each, then on my chest for 30 seconds with the super soft attachment while inhaling deeply. The nerves that regulate the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems extend from the spinal cord, so by targeting these areas, you are dealing with both to relieve stress. Stop your empathy and focus on the sympathetic system, which helps you relax.
You mentioned inhaling (taking a deep breath) among the steps, how does that help relieve stress?
Think of babies when they cry, they breathe frequently. They don't do it on purpose, it's what the body does to try to calm down. Because when you breathe, you open the alveoli — the tiny air sacs in your lungs — allowing more oxygen to enter and reach your brain. Instead of taking just a deep breath in the chest, I like to take two quick breaths through my nose in quick sequence, Then a slow exhalation through my mouth, allowing me to breathe deeper and better.
Better yet, do it while walking. Walking is a simple and effective thing you can do to manage stress.
By moving your body, you not only stimulate endorphins – a natural chemical for happiness – but also give your mind the perception that you are moving forward and overcoming your problems and putting them behind you.
I like to do double breathing twice for two minutes a day even if I'm not feeling stressed.
It's interesting to do breathing exercises daily even if you're not feeling nervous, tell us why?
For me, that's why you do those exercises over and over again. Getting results requires persistence and perseverance, It makes it easier to communicate with myself when I need to, such as when I'm stressed.
I think it's important to remember that success in something may not happen the first time.
When I say that health is about behaviors, I'm talking about building and maintaining positive habits
Invest time in yourself so you can take care of your body faster and start getting the answers you need to help better manage stress.
Pro Tips
If you want to ease tensions or have a moment of serenity in the middle of an eventful and challenging day, These routine steps are a simple way to help you feel balanced, connect more with your body and, over time, feel less stressed.
Dr. Jason's steps to ease tensions.
Slide the Theragun device for one minute on your left side of your body, followed by one minute on the right side, Then 30 seconds on your chest using the Supersoft accessory. Repeat these steps twice daily.
Dr. Jason Double Breathing Workout.
As you sit, relax and place your hands on your knees. Close your eyes and take two breaths in quick sequence through your nose, Hold for two seconds, then exhale through your mouth. Repeat this exercise two / five times daily.