Stress Monkey Solutions

28/03/2026

Man on the roof….

27/03/2026

Today we're exploring the ancient art of Silk Reeling a way that warriors of old kept their joints supple, mobile and strong 💪

Weekly QiGong - every Friday 4.30-5.30. Free for anyone living on the Western Isles with challenging lives. 🤩
QiGong is a gentle movement practice suitable for people with issues with fatigue, mobility limitations or long term conditions. It can be done from chair, bed or standing. 😊
All are welcome to drop in to any Zoom session. Some sessions are also available in person. 😄
Contact info@LTCH.org.uk or DM for more info.

27/03/2026

I took my nieces to see The Snow Queen ballet recently.

Watching their faces as the story unfolded — the music, the movement, the bravery, the tenderness — was a reminder of how deeply young minds are shaped by what they are exposed to.

Art like this matters.

Stories where courage isn’t loud, where love is steady, where perseverance and kindness are what carry the day. Where complexity exists, but hope is not lost. Where beauty, discipline, imagination and emotional truth are woven together without explanation.

In a world that currently offers children a steady stream of fear, speed, outrage and fragmentation, experiences like this do something quietly radical. They widen the inner landscape. They show that there are other ways of being, other rhythms, other outcomes.

Ballet, theatre, music, art — they teach attention, empathy, patience, emotional literacy. They offer an embodied understanding of effort, grace, struggle and resolution. Not as concepts, but as something felt.

I left feeling grateful they got to see this.
Grateful they got to feel wonder.
Grateful that their sense of what the world can be was gently expanded.

This is how hope is seeded — not through shielding children from reality, but by balancing it with beauty, meaning and imagination.

And that balance feels more important than ever.

26/03/2026

25/03/2026

Today we're focusing on breath particularly co2 conversion to reduce anxiety, inflammation an increase energy 🌬

Today and every Wednesday @ 3 pm Louise Davidson (Stress Monkey Solutions) offers a gentle yoga session especially for LTCH.
This class is designed specifically for people with limited energy, reduced mobility or other challenges. No yoga experience is required - just come as you are for a warm welcome 🤗
The movement practice is easy, gentle and enjoyable. “I feel so much lighter after a session.” 🤩
Email info@LTCH.ORG.UK to get link to join on Zoom. 😊

25/03/2026

“Are you the sternocleidomastoid? …because you turn heads.”
Funny — and actually very relevant.
The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) is a long muscle that runs from behind the ear down to the collarbone. It helps turn and tilt the head, but it also plays a much bigger role than most people realise.
The SCM is closely linked to:
– posture and head position
– breathing patterns
– balance and orientation
– jaw and facial tension
– the nervous system’s threat response
Because of this, it’s often overworked — especially in people who are stressed, anxious, screen-heavy, breath-holding, or constantly “holding it together”.
Common signs the SCM is struggling:
– neck pain or stiffness
– headaches or migraines
– jaw tension or clenching
– dizziness or balance issues
– eye strain or visual fatigue
– feeling wired, vigilant, or unable to fully relax
When the SCM is tight, it can pull the head slightly forward or to one side, creating strain through the neck, shoulders and upper back. It can also interfere with natural breathing by dominating over the diaphragm.
Importantly, the SCM often tightens as a protective response, not because it’s weak or lazy. The body is trying to help you stay alert and oriented — especially during stress or overload.
Simple ways to support it:
– Slow head movements, not stretches. Gentle rotations and nods help it soften.
– Breath awareness. Let the ribs and belly move so the neck doesn’t do the breathing.
– Eye movement exercises. Moving the eyes without moving the head can reduce neck guarding.
– Warmth and gentle touch, rather than deep pressure.
– Postural breaks from screens — especially reducing chin jutting forward.
Like many muscles, the SCM doesn’t need forcing.
It needs reassurance and better organisation.
When it’s supported, people often notice:
– less neck and jaw tension
– fewer headaches
– easier breathing
– a calmer, clearer nervous system
So yes — it does turn heads.
But when we care for it properly, it also helps us feel more settled, balanced and at ease in our bodies.

24/03/2026

What's your word?

23/03/2026

What happens when the nervous system is included

When the nervous system is included, people often notice:
– pain doesn’t dominate their attention as much
– rest actually feels restorative
– movement feels less effortful
– emotions pass through more easily
– daily life feels more manageable

These aren’t extras.
They’re foundational.

This is why we don’t separate physical health from nervous system health here.
They’re part of the same conversation.

When regulation comes first, the body has room to do what it already knows how to do.