Have you ever found yourself constantly tired, easily irritable, or always feeling unwell? Your body might not be sick, but you can't explain why you're so exhausted.

Physical and mental health are always intertwined. When psychological stress accumulates to a certain extent, a considerable amount of stress is already quietly hidden in the body.

The body constantly sends us signals. Learn to "read" your stress signs to readjust the pace of life and work. Coupled with soothing and straightforward body scan, yoga, and meditation practices, you can quickly restore your body to a balanced and healthy state.

Today, I'll share the five most common but easily overlooked stress signs I often receive from students and clients during my yoga and meditation teaching. Let's find them and practice body scans, yoga, and meditation together to find your energetic, vibrant self again.

Stress Sign 1 - Clenching Teeth and Grinding Teeth at Night

Many people unconsciously clench their teeth when nervous, and I have students who have unconsciously ground their teeth at night while sleeping. Through practice, they discovered that their "stress reaction point" was in their teeth.

If you find yourself often unconsciously clenching your teeth, or the frequency of grinding your teeth at night increases, the first thing you can do is to start with a 20 to 30-minute body scan to release the accumulated stress in your body.

In addition, before bed, try simple yoga stretches, breathing exercises, or pre-sleep meditation, which can help you relax your nervous system and fall asleep faster.

Fall Asleep in 10 Minutes With This Magical Cabin Meditation.

Stress Sign 2 - Shrugged Shoulders, Constant Headache, Shoulder and Neck Pain

Have you ever noticed that your shoulders are often shrugged? And your shoulders and neck easily feel tight, or do you often experience shoulder, neck, and headaches?

Many people unconsciously shrug their shoulders when working or feeling nervous. Shrugged shoulders also mean the body enters a "ready for battle" state.

A student once told me that she had never noticed that her shoulders were always shrugged until she did a body scan for the first time, and she was surprised that her shoulders didn't know how to relax.

Our shoulders are the "first line of defence" against stress. They will shrug up when you are focused, nervous, or in a hurry, as if ready to deal with a crisis at any time. But if this "ready for battle" state is turned on all day, over time, it will become the root cause of stiffness, soreness, and migraines.

If you are going through stress with tight shoulders and neck, try 15-minute daily stretches targeting the areas. I have seen many successful cases that eventually farewell their shoulder and neck pain with regular daily stretching.

Try this easy stretches to relax your neck and shoulders.

Stress Sign 3: Shallow Breathing and Frequent Shortness of Breath

What challenges new students the most is always starting the session with breathing exercises. I always start my classes with breathing awareness practice, and most new students find it hard to breathe "properly" and "freely".

When under stress, the body tends to hold up the breath, which makes us feel like we have a stuffy chest or shortness of breath. This is a sign that the body is in a state of "gasping for breath."

Practising conscious breathing is the first step to reconnecting mind-body awareness without forcing yourself to breathe deeply. Return to your body and observe the flow of your breath. When your breathing slows down, your heart will also gradually calm down, and so will your mind.

Take a moment to find inner peace with this 10 minute guided meditation.

Stress Sign 4: Lower Back Pain - Discomfort while Sitting or Standing

Do you feel like your lower back has been aching even though you haven't done much today? The lower back is one of the places where stress is most likely to "hide," especially for those who need to sit or stand for long periods.

Mental tension and lack of physical exercise can build stress in the lower back. When lower back soreness appears, perhaps your body is whispering to you: "I've been carrying this for a long time. Can I take a break for a while?"

When your lower back is tired, doing simple stretches can help relieve lower back soreness and muscle tension and strengthen your back muscles. Lower back relief exercises can help your body feel more comfortable, release stress, and welcome peace and healing.

A 15 Minute Meditative Practice to relief lower back pain.

Stress Sign 5 - Clenched Hands

Our hands are where we "grasp control" and where anxiety is most likely to manifest.

Have you ever noticed that you often clench your fists? Or are your fingers constantly moving unconsciously? Your body is trying to release inner anxiety through these movements.

Try body scanning to learn to relax in the most subtle parts of your body, such as your knuckles and fingertips. With a bit of practice every day, making releasing stress through fingertips a second nature, you will be surprised how powerful it is to learn to relax the subtle areas of your body.

Healing Begins With Noticing Your Stress Signals

If you recognize any signs above, congratulations! You are at your first step of healing, and a better you is undoubtedly on the way.

Now that you know you are working hard for your passion and life, you should also find time to reset.

Start with body scan meditation daily to soothe your mind and body. Every time you work hard, reward yourself with relaxation practice and allow yourself to return refreshed and energized.

Today, I invite you to practice this Body Scan meditation together. With awareness, from head to toe, connecting with every part of your body without forcing anything, surrender to the present moment.

I believe your body will love this healing gift. Leave a comment or email me to share your yoga journey.

Healing Begins With Noticing Your Stress Signals - Try Body Scan Meditation Now.