Okay, let’s talk about stress/tension relief,
It’s a for sure buzz-word and what literally, every single one of us wants. (can all the mama’s, working ladies and gents and every human in general say a hearty, amen??). When I first joined YL, I knew I was wanting to discover some natural tools to deal with stress, anxiety and overwhelm. I’ve always been drawn to my oily friends, they always smell so good (is that creepy to say or..? 😂). I knew using oils to handle everyday stress would be a GAME CHANGER, and guess what, it was… Why am I not surprised!
Aside from the many jokes I make to my sister, who is a mom of 2 under 2, about chugging or intravenously taking Stressaway (LOL), I’ve come to realize, dealing with stress, frustration, etc. is completely normal. Whatever the stressors or unknown triggers may be, oils are SUCH an important and underrated support. I think unlocking the realm of possibility is exciting too, fills me with hope! And for anyone who struggles with anxiety or high stress levels that especially results in physical tension, you know that the hope that things will eventually be okay/not always like this, is like a life raft.
I was a Contemporary Dance Major in University and has made me ridiculously aware of my body in each of its emotional states. This I’ve found is such a key of how to apply and maximize oil application during various moments. Oils are inherently healing, and taking some time just to focus on locating and applying an oil has helped to ground me. It gives me a task to do in the moment that I know is doing something beneficial for me. Whether it’s the gripping pressure around your heart when you’re about to cry, or tension in the side of the neck/upper back when you are trying to hold back an emotion, I’ve found that noticing is step 1! I want to share with you guys some simple and practical facts and steps that you may or may not already know, using a bit of my somatic awareness knowledge!
- There is a thing called FASCIA in our bodies that keeps all the muscles and organs in place! Many people store tension in these tiny web-like fibers and don't even realize it. For this instance, I'll refer to the Superficial Back Line!
- (This concept comes from Thomas W. Myers, an integrative manual therapist based out of Maine, USA. I will link his bio below)Now, let’s talk about this Line! The Superficial Back Line is an interconnection of fibers from the eyebrows to the bottoms of the feet, running in two lines, see picture below:
- I find I hold a lot of stress along this line (calves, hammies, back of neck, etc). There are MANY other meridians as well, I’ll link a resource below!
- I notice when I put oils, such as stress away, lavender, release, and frankincense along the lower back and base of the skull, and give myself a tiny massage while doing it, it occupies my physical energy and I feel more grounded in the present moment.
- I’ll also do the same with Peace and Calming every night before bed in my feet! The Life Science EO Ref is great for more details, but I’m going to discuss Myers' perspective on treating the superficial backline verbatim from his website below!
“How you can ‘treat’ the superficial backline yourself:
A very simple way to examine the superficial back line’s function, and thereby understanding how the body is composed, is called “exercise ball“.
- Stand up with your legs straight and bend forward. The goal is for your fingers to reach the ground, but not everyone can reach. Anyway. Note how far down you come.
- Take a golf ball, a tennis ball or something similar and roll it (with pressure) for about 1-2 minutes under each foot.
- Repeat step 1 and note how far down you will reach now. You should come at least 5cm further down. Otherwise, repeat step 2 and try again.”
What I recommend is doing step 1 above, then apply oils to lower back and neck, then doing step 2 and 3! I’ve found it to be a great way to use oils as aromatherapy while also doing something physical to ground you in moments of stress or anxiety. Giving oneself a physical task sometimes alleviates the “swirl” because in my experience, it has helped to still my heart and mind and focus on my physical body. I’ve felt so detached from my physical body so many times, especially in these kinds of moments, it’s actually surprising how doing these small adjustments make such a difference.
An added benefit of this stress relieving work is also, less back pain, alleviates tension in feet and headaches, etc. Add the oils on top of that and wowee! It certainly has invited me into a deeper processing emotion place and I’m grateful!
Below is a link to Thomas W. Myers, author of Anatomy Trains: https://fasciaguide.com/treatment/fascia-lines-the-intersections-of-the-body/
If you try this, let me know!! I’d love to hear any stories and if you see a difference after practicing these steps! Remember, grounding in your physical body is such a beautiful thing! It has changed my life, even just by doing the little things, helps me be more present and more aware, and God knows we all need a bit more of that in our lives in days like these! Love to you all ♥️
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