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Election Stress Relief
A 2-Minute Relaxation for Your Neck and Jaw
Try our body scan to find a moment of calm — right now
As we approach Election Day, Elemental is bringing you a progressive body scan for stress relief (also known as progressive muscle relaxation therapy; read more about the science behind it here). Each day, you’ll focus on and relax one part of your body to find a moment of presence and calm. Today, we dial in to the neck and jaw. Find earlier installments here (for the feet), here (for the legs and lower back), here (for the core), here (for the chest), and here (for the shoulders, arms, and hands).
Pause.
Take a nice big inhale… and a long exhale.
Tune in to yourself; tune out everything else.
Tune in to the power of this pause, the power of your breath, the power in the present moment.
Let go.
Bring your awareness to the space where the neck and shoulders meet.
Breathe into any spaces of tension, and let go.
Feel the neck: free, opened, safe, and relaxed.
Release any tension and resistance as you inhale… and exhale.
Feel the hair gently caressing the back of your neck.
Inhale safety, freedom, and relaxation into the neck…
Sigh out (maybe a loud sigh if you can).
Yawn if you need to.
Inhale… exhale.
Inhale… purse the lips as if you bit into a sour lemon while scrunching the face.
Exhale to release the purse and allow your lips to part open.
Inhale; purse the lips…
Exhale… let the lips part open.
Feel the breath exit the mouth.
Inhale…
Exhale to open the mouth wide, sending the tongue down to the chin.
Retract the tongue and inhale with sealed lips…
Exhale while sending the tongue down to the chin, releasing a lion-like hiss.
Scaring away your fears and anxiety.
Repeat for as many times as you like.
Inhaling… and exhaling a hiss, sending the tongue down to the chin.
When you are satisfied, release the movement.
Feel the jaw soften.
Feel the lips part.
Let the tongue relax in the mouth.
Let go.
Repeat this affirmation, either out loud or in your head: “With every new situation, an opportunity for courage and perseverance is born.”
