It may be that your body tenses up as soon as the alarm goes off in the morning, or maybe it’s the morning commute, or it could be when you interact with specific people, or when you’re going to bed thinking about all the things that need to get done tomorrow. Mind bracing can be identified by a flurry of thoughts that are racing through your mind. Body bracing might feel like muscle contraction, like a tightening in the chest, shoulders, or jaw. Your intention here is to simply get curious about what it feels like when your mind or body braces. It may be helpful to jot down a list of when you noticed these reactions during your day. What precipitated these events? Where do you feel them most in your body? Practice noticing when and where you brace and then work on actively releasing the tension. You can do this releasing through a deep breath in and out or by gently stretching in a way that helps the body and mind release. Or try a Relax and Retune Meditation Practice to slow down and release tension.
Relax and Retune Meditation Practice
You’ll be imperfect at this, don’t worry. Like learning to ride a bike or play an instrument, the more you learn where you brace and the more you practice releasing, the better and better you’ll get at it. The key is continuity.
