Tense shoulders, ready to fly. Tense hips prepared to run.
Nowhere to go. Or no real threat to oneself or another. No need to fight off attackers.
What triggers the fight-or-flight response when there is no danger we actually need to fight or flee from? And what happens when our nervous system and hormones are triggered and there is either no need to fight or no path to escape? Is this how some stress is created in the body–when there is no physical discharge or use for this high alert? Are panic attacks and excess aggression fight-or-flight responses with no physical discharge?
Practicing yoga and meditation can help us become aware of and even actually see this response being triggered in everyday situations in which it’s not needed. Using the breath and breathing deeply, we can actually decrease or draw off the response.
In yoga, practice asanas that strengthen the core, open the hips, open and broaden the chest and upper back, and that help pull the shoulders down from the ears and slide the shoulder blades down the back.
Flight/fright will come to your aide and allow you to escape if there is an emergency. Trust it to do its job when needed, and otherwise breathe and let it pass.
The Every Day Yogi 