Time for a quick Stress Reset?

Ever have days when your shoulders feel glued to your ears from tension? Or your jaw is aching because you've been clenching for hours without realising it?  That's not "just tension"...   That's your body physically holding onto stress.

Special Guest article from Peta Gillian - a certified personal trainer and lifestyle coach with over 17 years of experience

If you're juggling aging parents, grandkids, work, and trying to keep everyone else happy, your body is probably carrying way more stress than you realise.

You already know it isn't healthy to carry all that baggage, so here's what you can actually DO about it:

Enter: "Somatic Stress Release"

It'll help you release stress from your body instead of just trying to manage it in your head.

It might sound "woo-woo," but it's not, I promise.

It simply uses gentle movements and breathing patterns to reset your nervous system and build mind-body awareness.

Here are the most common places women over 55 hold tension (and why it might show up):

• Neck & shoulders: Carrying the weight of everyone else's needs

• Jaw: All the things you don't say (or teeth clenching while you sleep)

• Low back & hips: Feeling unsupported or unstable

• Chest: Shallow breathing, anxiety, pent-up emotions

• Gut/stomach: Digestive upset or emotional overwhelm

Do any of these sound familiar?

Below is a quick somatic release routine you can try right now.

TIP: It takes about 3-5 minutes and might look a bit odd, so you probably want to do it somewhere private.

1. Body scan - Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and slowly scan from head to toe. Acknowledge areas that feel tight or tense, but don't judge yourself for being stressed.

2. Neck & jaw release - Gently roll your head side to side. Open your mouth wide like a yawn, then slowly close it. (This is one of my favourites.)

3. Shoulder rolls - Roll your shoulders up, back, and down 5-10 times. Breathe while you do it. (Rolling your shoulders back can also help counteract the effects of sitting all day.)

4. Shake it out - Literally. Stand up and gently shake out your hands, arms, shoulders, and legs.

5. Deep breath + sigh - Take a big inhale, and let it go with an audible sigh. Repeat a few times.

It seems simple and might feel a little strange at first, but building a strong mind-body connection can make a BIG difference over time.

Try it and let me know how it works for you!

Be Fit & Fabulous,
Peta Gillian xo

P.S. I've put together a free 5-Day Stress Reset guide with simple daily habits like this one. If you want it, [grab it here]. Otherwise, just try the somatic release above and see how you feel.