These moves are really great for relieving tension, she says, and the sequence is designed to slowly warm up your body, improve mobility, boost core stability, and alleviate tightness in key areas, including your arms, shoulders, hips, and back. That’s where this sequence of eight relaxing exercises, created for SELF by Marianna DeCaro, D.P.T., C.S.C.S, a certified yoga teacher and physical therapist at SPEAR Physical Therapy in New York City, comes in. But relaxing your muscles-say, with a sequence of gentle stretches-can send calming signals to your brain that help alleviate mental stress. Mental stress can cause your muscles to tighten as your body tries to protect itself against injury and pain, according to the American Psychological Association. “We tend to separate out the mind and the body, and they’re so linked,” clinical psychologist Charlynn Ruan, Ph.D., founder of Thrive Psychology Group in Los Angeles and New York, tells SELF. They might not be a cure-all, but they may make you feel better for the moment. But there are relaxing exercises we all can do to both reduce total-body tension and calm our worried minds. And if you’re anything like me, you’ve also been feeling super tense lately. Used with permission.When I’m really stressed, I feel it in my body. PCS and Boardmaker are trademarks of Tobii Dynavox LLC. Boundless Community OT, LLC is not responsible for differences.

Quality and color of images may differ based on your printer and ink. Boundless Community OT, LLC is not responsible for trouble shooting if a buyer is unable to open the file. Buyer is responsible for ensuring that they can download PDF files prior to purchasing. You may not claim this product as your own. This purchase is for unlimited personal use. The simplicity of their designs leads to more effective processing and better outcomes. Children don't get lost in unnecessary details or overwhelmed by colors. As a therapist, Boardmaker is my favorite tool for creating visual supports. This product was designed by a pediatric occupational therapist using Boardmaker software. The larger size is perfect for instructional use. The smaller size is great to pack in calm down boxes, add to sensory kits, or stash in your purse.

This visual support is great on its own or as an additional tool to add to a calm down box or sensory diet. Five cleansing, slow, deep breaths can help children decompress, so they can better manage their big feelings.

With each completed deep breath, place your pointer finger over the corresponding number on the chart. No physical product will be mailed.**Įncourage children to slow down as they practice deep breathing.

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