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Relaxation and Stress Management (Free Preview)
Module 3 – Relaxation and Stress Management Part 1
Module 3 – Relaxation and Stress Management Part 1
Why Stress Management is Important
Stress can get in the way of what you’re trying to accomplish. When you’re stressed, you’re not performing at peak high velocity. You’re not leading from the inside out. Stress can bring a lot of fear, emotions, and anxiety, and carrying that around affects our sleep, focus, ability to focus.
Even though stress is based on the way we think about things, it has an impact on our body. When we say “I’m not sure I can do this,” our body reacts, it gets charged up, and adrenaline released. Those physical reactions can get in the way of the calmness we need to perform well.
Managing Physical Stress
Great players learn to manage stress and slow down bodies to change perceptions. When you’re uptight from stress, you’re breathing at the top of your chest, losing control, and you have low EI. You can regain control of your body by managing your breathing. Practice this breathing exercise as you watch. Notice the rhythm of your breathing, notice as you inhale, and exhale. Let your breathing slow down; feel the rhythm of your breath as it goes in and out. Notice the pause in between your breath. Notice where inhalation pauses and connects to exhalation. When you notice that pause, you’re in control, and you’re reducing your stress.
Up next we’ll cover deep breathing.
Module 3 – Relaxation and Stress Management Part 2
Module 3 – Relaxation and Stress Management Part 2
Breathing
We know that there are ways that slow down our breathing and center ourselves. In this exercise, we’re breathing deeply to relax and relieve stress. Start by slowly inhaling through your nose on the count of four. Hold it for a moment, and then exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of six. You might notice a feeling of calmness. Repeat this breathing exercise for a minute to help manage stress and slow down your body.
Long Term Stress Management
Stress can be complicated, with lots of different factors weighing on you. You can manage stress by not getting caught up in the day and maintaining your focus and attention. Letting go and relaxing, and having faith will also help. Ultimately your perspective and values can ground you and help you manage stress. Breathing in a way that slows down your body can help as well. We’ll cover these options in more detail in later modules.
Extra Practice
We’ve got audio recordings that are a deep relaxation. These recordings are a calming approach to stress management. You can listen to it before you go to sleep, or right when you wake up, to decrease your stress during your day.