August Welcome – Live Well, Travel Well, and Breathe Hatteras Island

Watermelon summer high

Getting through the peak of busy season, I try not to bite off more than I can chew—unless it’s watermelon! With the merry-go-round of visitors, outdoor events, beach days, music concerts, camps, and cookouts, it’s easy to start feeling the heat. Staying hydrated, being realistic on how much you can achieve, and letting go of FOMO can help reduce summer burnout and that frazzled feeling.

I’ve tried doing smaller bursts of activity, sensibly allowed myself to say ‘no’ on occasions, and have literally been shaking things up for an unexpected energy boost. After one very long day, I suprized myself by going to a last-minute event where I danced the night away and felt great!

Shake therapy for stress relief. Where did this come from? It got me thinking—what primal force did I tap into—kundalini, qi gong, or some free form of divine ecstatic flow? It’s not always rest and relaxation your body needs. Sometimes, a sudden jolt to the system gets those endorphins flowing, kickstarts your energy, and rejuvenates you. Try it. Do something fun, liberating, silly, and dance like no one is watching!

How to do a great shake! And re-energize when all you’ve got is a hot minute. Firstly, there are no rules. Just move. Randomly. Quickly. And in all directions. Shake your hands, feet, and all your limbs. Wiggle your hips. Move your butt. Roll those shoulders. Do the twist. Let loose like you have no control or feel a release. Tap your body anywhere and everywhere. Pull funny faces, work your mouth and jaw. Hum or yell if you feel like it, or do it to music if you want. Keep shaking until you feel like stopping. Then just stop. That’s it. If you only lasted 30 seconds or made it to a few minutes, it does not matter. Don’t think about it or dwell on it. Simply move on.

In the morning, I try to ‘shake awake’ before my coffee. I throw in another good shake when I hit that afternoon slump or need to summon some energy to go do something. Yes, I feel ridiculous like a crazy horse (Qigong fans will know!). And will get caught in the act soon enough. Weirdly, it also feels tingly and good. Shaking-it-up is essentially a movement meditation or somatic therapy that you make up as you go and can’t get wrong!

Photo credit: Kampus Production