Can Stretching Make You Happier?

Neuroscientists believe stretching our bodies is part of a brain-body feedback loop and can make you more relaxed and open to the world.  

There is scientific evidence to back up the claim that stretching on a regular basis can make you happier.

Changes within your physicality can profoundly affect your brain.

We all know the leg bone is attached to the hip bone.  We don’t often think about the fact that EVERYTHING in your body is attached by a tight suit of interconnecting fascia. Tightness in your legs affects the tension in your shoulders and stress that you hold in your hips can affect the muscles all the way up through your lower back and to your skull.

Besides causing a lot of aches and pains—which will put anyone in a bad mood—this tension can work along your brain-body feedback loop to create an undercurrent of anxiety or stress to all your moods.

Along with range of motion exercises and massage, gentle stretching is key for keeping things loose and lubricated. Stretching also provides additional neurological benefits like improving heart rate, blood pressure and hormonal regulation.

Feeling Fowl? – Do The Pigeon Pose

Pigeon Pose One

“Some stretches are more effective on our moods than others. Generally, we all hold a lot of tension in our hip joints, making pigeon pose an effective starter stretch for relieving stress and anxiety. The posture, which you can see explained in the video, helps to undo the damage of long term sitting and to release emotional tension. It lengthens the piriformis muscle, a small gluteal muscle that is often underused and too tight.

Pigeon Pose Two

Be aware: If a stretch is painful there is a lot of frozen tension present and you should be very careful, go slow and stop before it is painful.  Do not push beyond your ability. Preferably, take a yoga, or stretching class or get professional help.

However, if you are not in a fowl mood a cat stretch might be more to your ability . . . or even quicker and easier . . . 

. . . Read How to trick your brain into being happy to find out how stretching your smile muscles can make you feel happier.

https://www.care2.com/greenliving/can-stretching-make-you-happier.html