Health & Fitness

One-minute Stress Relief in 6 Simple Steps

Try this simple exercise routine to relieve stress-related tension

By Wellness Matters /

Credit: Flickr / Stuart Pilbrow

Before you pull your hair out, relieve stress with a few simple exercises

Follow this quick one-minute routine to relieve stress-related tension

To help relieve tension in your shoulders, neck and jaw, try these simple exercises:

  1. Very slowly move your head from front to back.
  2. Use the same slow, gentle motion to move your head from side to side.
  3. Finally, slowly roll your head in a full circle
  4. Roll your shoulders slowly both forward and backward
  5. To help release tension in the jaw, begin by opening your mouth slightly
  6. Gently move your lower jaw from side to side and front to back.

Make sure to take frequent breaks to stretch, relax and decompress.

Take notice of your hunched back, tense shoulders and clenched jaw and mindfully adjust your posture to reduce bodily strain.

Note: If you feel any pain or discomfort, or have had any injuries to the back, neck or jaw, you should check with your doctor first.

Originally published in Wellness Matters, Canada Wide Media’s quarterly newsletter on health and wellness.