5 Tips for Self-Care from CORE El Centro Volunteer Manager Jillian Holy-Skaja

5 Easy Tips to Recharge and Relieve Stress:

Jillian Holy-Skaja is the Volunteer Program Manager at CORE

Are you stuck because you’re pushing a door that says pull? Our bodies are like cars and need regular tune-ups and gas to run effectively. If the tank is low, it’s time to fill up.

But what if your day-to-day experiences are preventing you from taking care of the most important person in your life - you? It’s not selfish to do what is best for you and get your battery recharged.

Self-care takes many forms, but what it ultimately amounts to is treating your body and mind with kindness and compassion. When you are kind to yourself from the inside out, amazing things can happen. If you are feeling stressed, there are simple things you can do throughout the day to help you relax and recharge. When we listen to our bodies we learn what they need. You may gain a more positive outlook on life and embrace all that life has to offer.

Jillian Holy-Skaja is the Volunteer Program Manager at CORE and also teaches Yoga. She shared five easy tips to decrease anxiety, help you relax and learn to love the most important person - YOU.

1. Take two minutes for breath awareness

In the yoga tradition, breath has its own wisdom. Breathing changes with our emotions, physical health and activity. When you take a minute to slow down, stop what you’re doing and become aware of your breathing, you will be drawn into the present. Close your eyes, put your hands on your belly and breathe. Breathing draws us into the present, helping us to recognize what a present breath is.

2. Release emotion through the Lion Pose

Lion Phose

Have you ever wanted to scream out of frustration? Try this tip, which you can do seated or on all fours. Open your mouth wide, stick out your tongue and exhale. No, really exhale! OK, now try it again and roar like a lion. That roar you just made is releasing pent up emotions.

3. Shake, shake, shake your body

Ever notice how a dog shakes his body after a nap? Animals know that shaking releases tension. Our pooches are onto something. Voluntary shaking helps you release tension. Remember how good it felt to dance as a kid? Get back into kid mode, put on some tunes and dance. Play your favorite joyful tunes and give yourself permission to move, get wild and be free. Feel that tension melt away.

4. Give yourself a gentle massage

Gently touch your face, neck and arms with loving tenderness. OK, maybe this sounds awkward and corny, so think of how you handle an infant with loving, tender care. Isn’t it important to be just as tender with yourself? Our bodies store up trauma, so why not release that tension with loving touch? For added benefits, use essential oils. Just two minutes of massage and you’re on your way to healing.

5. Breathe love into your heart

Close your eyes, put your hand on your heart or tap your heart and think about loving yourself as you become aware of your heart center. Opening up your heart for yourself gives you greater capacity to love others.