3 Tips For Reducing Stress From Mind Body Green’s Revitalize
Did you know that you can calm your nervous system with a simple breathing technique? Learn that plus more tips from Mind Body Green’s Revitalize, a three-day wellness conference I recently attended in Arizona.
As you’ve probably gathered, I’m a skeptic when it comes to many things. If something is stated as a fact, I want to see the evidence. #showmethescience
So when I was invited by Kohl’s to check out the Mind Body Green Revitalize conference in Arizona this past weekend, it was with a healthy dose of uncertainty that I packed my bags full of super cute new Nike gear and headed for the desert.
I’m all about incorporating health-promoting Eastern medicine practices that are backed by science like yoga and meditation, but I’m weary of things that are more “woo woo.”
I was pleasantly surprised though by the medley of fascinating people in attendance with viewpoints that embraced both Eastern and Western tradition and I came home with a plethora of practical, applicable life skills that I’ll be incorporating into my daily habits.
The majority of techniques I learned were related to breath and the powerful ability of breathing to change your emotional state. Simple breathing techniques can instantly produce a shift in mental state.
So when you need to amp up for a hardcore workout like the one I did Saturday morning with Sophie Jaffe, Jordan Younger, and Alicia Archer – there’s a breathing technique for that!
Btw, how cute are our Kohl’s outfits? Deets at the bottom of the post!
Or when you want to take it down a notch after a jam-packed day of thought-provoking presentations and stimulating conversations – there’s breath work for that too!
There are also some techniques I learned for refocusing and reframing your thoughts, preventing negativity from hindering your performance, and eating to lower stress hormones.
Want to optimize your mental and physical state with some easy, applicable tips? Try these! >>
1. Rechannel Negative Energy with “Anxious Reappraisal.”
The next time you’re feeling anxious about something – meeting someone important, giving a presentation to a large group, doing karaoke at a crowded bar, reframe your thoughts about your nervous energy.
Instead of viewing anxiety as a hindrance, imagine it as excitement. It’s called “anxious reappraisal” and one study showed that people who were able to employ this technique were better able to regulate their emotional state than those who tried to suppress their feelings or simply accept them.
Thanks to David Mykel of Cliffhanger Academy for this tip!
2. Calm Your Nervous System with Breath.
It sounds simple — when you’re stressed, just breathe. Actually, it is that simple!
Studies show that deep, slow breathing has the ability to decrease heart rate and slow the sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system. I got the chance to take a breathwork class led by neuroscientist Andrew Huberman Ph.D. and human performance expert Brian Mackenzie and learned an easy breathing exercise to use when you’re feeling hyperaroused and need to chill out.
Here’s how to do it:
- Breathe in for a count of 5.
- Hold your breath for a count of 5.
- Breathe out for a count of 10.
- Hold for a count of 5.
- Repeat for 5-6 rounds.
The more you practice this exercise, the longer you can make your breaths. Just remember to keep the ratio 1:2 for the inhalation and exhalation.
3. Balance Your Cortisol Levels with Diet.
Despite its negative connotation as the “stress hormone,” cortisol is actually not a bad thing. We need cortisol to provide our body with energy throughout the day between meals, and to provide arousal in the morning when we wake up. What we don’t want is chronically high or low cortisol levels, or high levels of cortisol at night when we’re trying to wind down.
Dr. Aviva Romm, who specializes in women’s health and hormone functioning, shared some insightful tips on using diet to help regulate cortisol levels. One of them was to aim for a plant-based diet or Mediterranean style of eating. Studies show that women who eat diets rich in whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables have better “cortisol variability,” which means a more healthy cortisol cycle, and lower abdominal body fat (a risk factor for chronic disease).
Aviva suggests women consume whole grains within 3-4 hours before bedtime, as this can lower cortisol at night and prevent food cravings the following day.
Watch Aviva’s full talk on Mind Body Green >>
In addition to these helpful tips and tricks, I also walked away with many amazing new friends and a renewed interest in the practice of meditation (one of my new year’s goals that fell by the wayside).
I am so thankful to Mind Body Green and Kohl’s for inviting me to this wonderful weekend!
If you’re in need of hip new activewear for fall, you should definitely check out Kohl’s right now. They have tons of cool gear in the most popular shades of the season from wellness brands including Nike, Adidas, Under Armor, New Balance, Asics, Gaiam, Tek Gear, and many more.
They also have tons of other healthy living must-haves from brands like Vitamix, Nutribullet, Ninja, and FitBit.
SHOP THE POST:
Nike Training Tank // Nike Power Running Capri // Nike “Breathe Deep” Tank // Nike Flex Running Shoe // adidas Squad III Dot Duffel Bag // Nike Strappy Sports Bra // Gaiam Peacock Reversible Yoga Mat
Weigh In: Do you do yoga, meditation or breath work? Will you try any of these techniques?
*This post is sponsored by Kohl’s but all opinions are my own.
Amanda Howard says:
I’ll definitely be trying out the tips in this post & I love yoga! Thank you for sharing!
Deryn | Running on Real Food says:
That sounds like such event…I was seeing everyone’s posts on social, looked like a blast with so many great peeps, workouts and food. Thanks for the tips!
Whitney English says:
It was a lot of fun – and very informative!
Ashley | Fit Mitten Kitchen says:
Whitney this is such a great post! I practiced the breathing right away ;-) The trip looked like so much fun from watching yours and others stories. I love how much wellness talk is happening these days!
Whitney English says:
Aw yay! So happy you gave it a try! What did you think? Did you notice a difference?
Rachel says:
Anxious reappraisal is brilliant. I could have used that on Monday!! I’ll be using that from now on!
Whitney English says:
Yes! I’m excited to use it myself the next time I’m having performance anxiety!
Sarah says:
I love this post and the idea of anxious reappraisal! I’ve never heard of this before but already looking into it, thank you for sharing!
Whitney English says:
Yeah, I hadn’t heard of it either but it makes so much sense. Once I saw the research on it too I was sold!
Tara | Treble in the Kitchen says:
These are great tips, Whitney!!!!
Whitney English says:
Thanks Tara!
Jessica @ Small Bites by Jessica says:
Looks like such an amazing time! Wish I was there to join! :D
Whitney English says:
Maybe next year!
Joanna says:
This looked like such a fun weekend! I loved watching on your Stories
Whitney English says:
Thanks Joanna! It was a great time!
Laura says:
A night at the Ritz would be enough to calm me down…thoroughly! Wouldn’t need to do anything else lol! Great tips here!
Whitney English says:
It certainly helped!! Thanks Laura :)
Christine says:
I definitely need to practice breathing to reduce stress and rest my mind. We’re about to remodel our kitchen, so this post is PERFECT!
Whitney English says:
Oh yeah, home makeovers definitely require breath work! ;)
Lorie says:
Nothing works quite like the breath. It’s remembering it at the right times!
Alisa Fleming says:
Sometimes I feel like I’ve forgotten how to breath – I need reminders like this! And those outfits are cute!
Patty @ Reach Your Peak says:
I love the first tip. I get really nervous when meeting new people or being in a situation where I know I’ll have to talk to new people. Will have to try this!
Zhanna says:
Thanks for sharing such great tips! I will definitely give them a try.
I also love your yoga poses. You make them look so easy doable although I know how much practice and persistence each of them requires. Good job!
http://www.morethandestination.com
Yudith says:
Such a fun post with helpful tips. Great inspirational photos about yoga, breathing and healthy diet. Breathing techniques are simple and yet they are one of the most easy ways to calm performance anxiety . Thank you for sharing a breathing exercise to calm down. I wonder why the ratio 1:2 for the inhalation and exhalation is important.
Augustus says:
Great article, Whit! I genuinely believe that breathing can be one of the easiest ways to tackle stress problems, fully agree with what you wrote. I would also like to add that proper nutrition could be also a good way to even reduce altercations with stress. If a person is living a healthier style, eating good food, and getting enough sleep, I believe that the person will experience less stressful situations. Supplements like vitamin D and ashwagandha are good nutrients that help to deal with stress. https://actimore.com/ is a great place to get all sorts of vitamins and supplements, that can help battle stress and tackle other day-to-day problems.
WilliamAm90 says:
Hello. Thank you for your information. It will be useful for me. Now I’m looking for ways to unwind after a hard day at work. If you have any advice for me please write to me. Thank you in advance.
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Denial says:
For me, spiritual practices aimed at preventing and improving one’s mental and spiritual states, having a solitary nature away from the public bustle, work best in such cases. Meditation can also be a great solution. I had a great experience coaching retreat Mallorca with Katja Verbeek-Millitz who helped me spiritually heal and transform to the best version of myself
Polly says:
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