#Headspace#MentalHealth#StressLess Spent the whole day exhausted … only to get into bed and tense up as you suddenly remember every embarrassing thing you’ve said for the past 10 years? The good news is, you can put that hand-clenching to work. In this 8-minute guided meditation, Mel walks you through a simple breathing exercise and progressive muscle relaxation practice designed to calm racing thoughts, release tightness in the body, and help your nervous system finally take the hint that it’s time to relax. You’ll gently tense and ease different muscle groups while focusing on deep breathing — a simple technique that can help quiet mental chaos by starting with the body first. Try this at bedtime, or anytime you need to soothe your nerves.
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Video Summary
AI Generated
This video provides a guided relaxation exercise designed to quiet a hyperactive mind and reduce anxiety. By shifting focus from racing thoughts to physical sensations through deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation, viewers can ground themselves and achieve a state of calm before sleep or stressful events.
Isn't it strange how we can be so tired all day, but the second we lay down to sleep,
our minds go into hyperdrive. Some of us experience this kind of anxiety nightly,
where for others it might be more situational. But there is good news for all of us.
We have the power to calm our brains down whenever we need to. Whether it's before bed
or a big meeting, we can quiet our minds by checking in with our bodies.
A relaxation exercise can help. I'll guide you through one now, which you can turn to
whenever you need it. Get in a comfy position. If it feels good, roll your shoulders out,
back, and forward. Gently close your eyes, or simply lower your gaze. Take a long, slow,
deep breath. In through your nose, and out your mouth. One more. In, and out.
On this next one, let's hold the breath for a count of three. After inhaling. In. Hold. Two.
Three. Out. Now we're going to try what's called progressive muscle relaxation.
We'll isolate parts of the body, one by one, to tense them up, and then relax them completely.
Remember to keep breathing as we do this, and know that all our bodies are different. So do
only what feels good to you. You can modify by simply doing belly breaths
for anything that may not be available to you. Let's start by bringing your attention to your
feet. Scrunch your toes and hold it for a count of ten. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven.
Eight. Nine. Ten. Release. Move up to your legs. Point your feet. Stretch your ankles.
And tense up all the muscles in your legs. Hold it for one. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven.
Eight. Nine. Ten. Relax. Now to your torso. Tighten your abdomen,
as if you're trying to sit up straight, using these muscles alone. One. Two. Three. Four. Five.
Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Relax. And feel your whole torso melt. Now, our hands.
Make your hands into fists or claws. Intense up all the little muscles in them. Holding for
two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Relax. And the arms. Stretch your arms out.
And tense your biceps for ten counts. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight.
Nine. Ten. Let them rest. Now, breathe into your shoulders and neck. No need to tense them.
Just imagine your breath entering those muscles. Creating space. And let them relax with each
exhale. In. And. Out. In. And. Great job today. Notice if your body feels a little different.
Maybe a little more grounded. A little more open. This exercise is available to you whenever you
feel anxiety creep in. Or when you just want to unwind. Repeat this after me. Out loud or in your
head. I am calm from the inside out. I am calm from the inside out. Let's take a final deep breath
together. In. And. Out. Remember, when anxious thoughts creep in, you can let your body lead
the way. To calm your mind. Open your eyes. Let the day come back into focus. And remember, you got this.
