Ease Muscle Tension Through Reading
Shared by Dr. John Wertish
Reading to Ease Muscle Tension and Stress
Reading is currently one of my favorite things to do to relax. If you had asked me if I enjoyed reading as a kid, I would have laughed until I cried. After going to chiropractic school, I was burned out with reading. Life continues to get busy, and a friend recommended a health book to read. Once I understood it was not a forced activity with a deadline and I could just sit and enjoy the material, I fell in love. Fast forward 10 years of reading books for fun and it has had a significant impact on my health and stress management. Our mind when stressed can seem like it is moving a million miles per hour. Next time you feel like it is fight or flight time, sit down and grab a book that you have interest in. Take 10 minutes and read a few pages. After that 10 minutes make a mental note on how you feel. I bet if felt good.
Cognitive neuropsychologist Dr. David Lewis (2009) conducted numerous studies that reported “reading for just 6 minutes can be enough to reduce stress levels by up to 68%.” This occurs because “the human mind has to concentrate on reading and the distraction eases the tension in muscles and the heart
I attached the reference t0 an article on how reading can decrease stress on your body.
References
Lewis, D. “Galaxy Stress Research.” Mindlab International, Sussex University, UK. 2009..