Guide · body · 3 min read

Releasing tension you did not notice you were holding — a gentle, practical guide, if you are new to this

By mid-afternoon most people are holding their shoulders, jaw and hands without knowing. Here is a two-minute check.

Start here

The order matters less than doing the first one tonight. Start there and come back to the rest.

Nothing here assumes you have done this before.

If you only do one thing from this page, do the first point below. It is first because it removes the most friction for the least effort.

What helps

Drop your shoulders by a centimetre. Not a shrug in reverse — just let gravity do the work.

Start with the jaw. Let your back teeth part slightly. Most people hold their jaw closed all day and only notice at night.

Uncurl your hands. If you have been typing, your fingers are probably still curved around an invisible keyboard.

What to do when it does not work

Check whether your tongue is pressed against the roof of your mouth. It usually is.

Stand up and walk to another room once an hour. Not for exercise — just so your body remembers it has legs.

Change position every thirty minutes rather than trying to find the perfect posture. There is no correct way to sit for eight hours.

Questions people ask

Why does my jaw hurt in the morning?

Often clenching or grinding during sleep. That is worth mentioning to a dentist, who will recognise it immediately.

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