5 Easy, Relaxing Stretches for Stress Relief, According to a Physical Therapist
Give yourself a break with soothing stretches that send stress and anxiety packing. Mar 11, 2021
If you’re feeling more stressed than usual these days (and who isn’t?), there’s a simple way to feel better fast: Start stretching! Not only does stretching help ease achy muscles and joints and maintain mobility as we get older, it’s also a soothing way to unwind.
“Stretching often is a neglected type of exercise, but it couldn’t be easier,” says Carol Ewing Garber, Ph.D., a professor of movement sciences at Teachers College, Columbia University. “You don’t need to be fit or use special equipment, and you don’t have to do much to experience benefits. Stretching makes you slow down and focus on the present, which also becomes a sort of mindfulness meditation.”