Uneven breathing is the most evident indication of stress while driving. So one of our driving tip on this World Yoga Day is to stay focused and try deep breathing technique in order to keep yourself calm and relaxed.
Sitting in one position for a prolonged period can put a lot of stress on your body, especially when you are frequent to the traffic jams in Bangalore, Mumbai or Delhi. Utilise this time spent in traffic to do small exercises that will aid relaxation of both - mind and body. Take a few breaths while looking over one shoulder and then repeat for the other shoulder and if your vehicle allows, you can even do a bit stretching to free your muscles.
You can even do a bit side stretching when stuck in traffic. Keep both your hands on the steering wheel, inhale a deep breath and extend the spine. Then exhale slowly leaning to one side.
Under stress you might tend to insert more pressure, which could also impact the way you drive. Be mindful on how much strain you put on your hands while steering. Try to keep your hands relaxed for free wrist and hand movement.
Stay relaxed and don't strain yourself | Image Courtesy - Livestrong
Drooping forward while sitting not only leads to strain on your back and shoulders, but also causes your breath to be shallow. Adjust the seat in a position you are most comfortable in and keep you back straight.
If a situation on the road provokes you, it is best to pull over for a few minutes and relax. Get out of the car do and bit of stretching and do small breathing exercise like exhale for longer than your inhalations, and repeat till you feel relaxed.
Most of us tend to listen to high octane adrenaline rushing music that keeps us peppy on the road. However, it also adds to the stress levels, especially when countered with heavy traffic jams. During such instances, it is advised to switch too more calming music that will help you relax and not add to the stress levels. Also, nobody on the road needs to know what your taste in music is like, so turn down the volume.
