Stress, restlessness and sleep:the need for deep inner calm
Does this sound familiar?
- You’re always “on,” even when you’re supposed to be off.
- At night, you lie in bed, but your mind just won’t switch off.
- You know you need to rest, but you just can’t seem to relax.
- After a week’s holiday, you finally start to unwind, but after a few days at work that relaxed feeling has already disappeared.
Why it can sometimes be hard to relax
Your nervous system has two modes. The active mode (the sympathetic nervous system) helps you perform, focus and react quickly. The rest mode (the parasympathetic nervous system) supports recovery, digestion and good sleep.
When life is full and comes with a lot of responsibility, your body is often stuck in go mode. That leaves too little time for recovery. You may notice this in poor sleep, restlessness, fatigue, or tension in your body. Relaxing isn't simply a matter of willpower; it means teaching your body how to switch off again.
Three ways to unwind
YogaWith movement, breathing and mindfulness, you consciously slow down and reconnect with your body. You learn to recognize signals more clearly and release tension. Not woo-woo, but practical and down to earth. Research shows that yoga can help reduce stress and improve sleep.
HypnotherapyMany patterns and responses are deeply rooted in past experiences, stress or habit. That’s why they can be so hard to break. During a session, you enter a deeply relaxed, focused state while remaining fully in control. Hypnotherapy can help with stress, self-doubt, sleep problems, pain and unwanted habits, among other things.
ReikiA gentle treatment designed to promote deep relaxation. Many people find reiki calming and feel lighter and more balanced afterward. It can be a valuable complement for stress, restlessness and fatigue.
Deep inner calm
In a programme I developed, I combine elements of yoga, hypnotherapy and reiki. Together, they help calm your fight-or-flight response, allowing your rest-and-digest system to do its job.
You’ll be guided at your own pace. There’s nothing to achieve—just take it in. Many people feel lighter, clearer and more like themselves afterwards. Relaxation is always a complement to your regular care, never a replacement.
Give yourself this time to rest.
Discover what kind of relaxation suits you.
15 minutes, no obligation.
Programs to support you with stress, anxiety and sleep
- The breathing space · 3 months
For stress, restlessness, fatigue or a need for more balance. To help you get out of your head and reconnect with your body’s signals. Includes an intake with a mind-body exercise, three reiki or hypnotherapy sessions, a restorative yoga session and exercises to do at home.
Prefer to start by relaxing in a low-key way? Come and try a yoga class in Amstelveen →
Every Wednesday morning at 10:30am, I teach at Zest Your Life.
