This Simple Neck Massage Will Soothe Your Stress Instantly

"You're going to use a couple fingers and massage in circles. Nice and gentle, it doesn't need to be a lot of pressure. You'll notice you might yawn, you might take a really big sigh, and feel this sense of calm come through your whole body."

"According to Chloë Bean, LMFT, a somatic trauma therapist in Los Angeles, it's smart to have a few body-based tools in your back pocket that help prevent stress from snowballing into full nervous system overload. The goal isn't to never feel anxious. It's to shorten the time your body stays stressed."

A gentle neck massage near the ears can rapidly reduce stress by stimulating the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain through the neck to the gut. This simple technique involves using a few fingers to massage in gentle circles, often triggering yawning and deep sighs as the nervous system shifts from stressed to calm. Healthcare providers recommend this body-based tool as an accessible anxiety management technique that can be used anytime before presentations, interviews, or stressful situations. The practice helps shorten the duration stress affects the body, preventing nervous system overload and promoting a sense of calm throughout the entire body.

Read at Bustle