Yet more how to chill out…

So in the past I have talked about how any activity can help you chill out as long as you enjoy it and it absorbs you including video games.  But what about Origami?

The ancient Japanese art of Origami has recently seen a surge in popularity due to the fact it can be done any-time, anywhere, with materials that are often to hand in stressful environments such as schools and offices. It may seem complicated, but thanks to YouTube, and online course platforms like Udemy, anyone can make learn to make simple creations from table decorations to paper aeroplanes without spending a fortune on expensive tools or equipment.

According to paper folding guru Himanshsu Agrawal (who has five world records to his name- including the creation of a 44 foot human being and a 105 foot dinosaur!): “Origami is inherently geometric; as you fold from one end to the other, the movement becomes rhythmic. It soon feels like you are detached from the world.”

The act of folding paper has been shown time and again to help decrease anxiety and increase feelings of inner calm. The beautiful film “Between the folds” takes a deeper look at the art of paper folding and it’s many benefits for health and its a good place to get more information.

Related Posts

  • My top exercise

    My top exericse, is very underrated, it is walking, I love it. Here is why. 1. Walking is good for everyone.  Doctors agree  including the elderly, morbidy obese, arhritic and pregnant women.  Walking is gentle enough for most people who have these conditions and the activity can help ease the pain of chronic illness. 2. Walking is free  and easy - no expensive gym fees and no equipment needed! 3. Walking is linked to lower rates of obesity.  People who walk to work are less likely to be obese, 30 minutes walking a day burns 150 calories..  A 2015 study found that even walking just 20 minutes a day can reduce your risk of premature death by 30%. 4. Walking prevents diabetes as it helps regulates blood sugar levels, which in turn keeps insulin levels low at diabetes at day.  A 15 minute walk after a meal is all that is need to help regulate blood sugar levels. 5. Walking is good for year heart. A 2013 study found that walkers who cover the same mileage as runners enjoy comparable reductions in high blood pressure, high cholesterol and coronary heart disease. While it took twice as long for walkers to cover the distance, walking may be a more sustainable and accessible activity than running for most people, especially those who are new to exercise. 6. Walking helps you get a good nights sleep.  Travel experts adivse when you arrive at a new city on the day you arrive to walk around.  The reason is that you expose your body to sunlight and saying outside until it grows dark helps you to recalibarte the hormone melatonin to your new time zone.  As melatonin rises so does feelings of sleepiness. 7. Walking improves your mood protecting you from both anxiety and depression.   Moving your body is a well-known way to release endorphins, a set of feel-good chemicals that dull pain receptors in the brain, sedate you and even give you feelings of happiness and euphoria. That’s why exercise in general, and walking in particular, is recommended to help improve symptoms of mild to moderate depression. A 2005 study found that walking briskly for 35 minutes five times a week, or 60 minutes three times a week, had a significant influence on mild to moderate depression symptoms. References 2015 Study see >> https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/552048/Brisk-20-minute-walk-each-day-could-reduce-risk-early-death 2013 Study see >> http://time.com/3668654/exercise-obesity-walking-premature-death/ Exercise for depression study see >> https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/03/for-depression-prescribing-exercise-before-medication/284587/  and the 2005 study see >> https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-is-an-all-natural-treatment-to-fight-depression  

  • Natural ways to reduce anxiety – Part 4

    Following on from my last post on calm breathing, I want to introduce you to calming counting.  The advantage of this technique over calm breathing is that it helps you stop focusing on worried thoughts! Calming Counting

    1. Sit comfortably.
    2. Take a long, deep breath and exhale it slowly while saying the word "relax" silently.
    3. Close your eyes.
    4. Let yourself take ten natural, easy breaths. Count down with each exhale, starting with "ten."
    5. This time, while you are breathing comfortably, notice any tensions, perhaps in your jaw or forehead or stomach. Imagine those tensions loosening.
    6. When you reach "one," open your eyes again.
    As claming counts takes about 90 seconds this is precious time that your body gets to relax and quieten your mind. It is perfectly possible to do this on your commute, as long as you don't drive or at your desk or even in the loo!  

  • What is good standing posture?

    We all know we need to maintain good posture, but what exactly is good standing posture? Good standing posture When standing, keep these tips in mind:

    • Keep your shoulders back and relaxed.
    • Pull in your abdomen.
    • Keep your feet about hip distance apart.
    • Balance your weight evenly on both feet.
    • Let your hands hang naturally at your sides.
    Try not to tilt your head forward, backward or sideways, and make sure your knees are relaxed — not locked.

    Take the wall test

    To test your standing posture, take the wall test. Stand with your head, shoulder blades and buttocks touching a wall, and have your heels about 2 to 4 inches (about 5 to 10 centimeters) away from the wall. Reach back and slide your hand behind the curve in your lower back, with your palm flat against the wall. Ideally, you'll feel about one hand's thickness of space between your back and the wall. If there's too much space, tighten your abdominal muscles to flatten the curve in your back. If there's too little space, arch your back so that your hand fits comfortably behind you. Walk away from the wall while maintaining this posture. Keep it up throughout your daily activities.

    Check out your reflection

    To see if you're keeping your shoulders straight, stand in front of a mirror. Aim to keep your shoulders square and relaxed.

    It all adds up

    Although good posture should be natural, you might feel wooden or stiff at first if you've forgotten the sensation of standing up straight. The key is to practice good posture all the time.  Remember its never to late to start practicing good posture.