Your hands have been clenched. Open them, slowly.
We hold tension in our fists without noticing. Let your fingers spread.
Check your hands for a second. There's a good chance they're tighter than they need to be, curled, gripping, half-closed even when they're holding nothing at all. The body stores a surprising amount of stress in the hands, quietly, all day long.
So open them. Spread your fingers as wide as they'll go, until you feel the slight stretch across your palm. Hold it for a breath, then shake your hands out loosely, the way you would after washing them. Do it twice if it feels good.
Then rest your palms open on your lap, facing up, and just leave them there. Open hands are hard to keep tense. It's a tiny gesture, but the body reads it as: nothing to grip right now, nothing to brace against. Let your hands be the first part of you to relax.
Try this today
- Open your fists and spread your fingers wide
- Shake your hands out loosely for a few seconds
- Rest your palms open and facing up on your lap