Have you tried rubbing your palms together vigorously when you feel stressed or anxious? If you haven't, trust us, it's worth a try! It's a simple exercise that one tends to do when it is cold, to bring warmth to the body. But as it happens, palm rubbing can be a soothing wellness practice that can benefit our mind and body. From self-healing to generating warmth to curbing stress, this technique of briskly rubbing our palms together has various health benefits.

What are the benefits of palm rubbing?

Whether you want physical relief or you want to alleviate stress, this technique of palm rubbing is both impactful and accessible. Some of the major benefits of palm rubbing, according to yoga expert Divya Rolla, include:

1.Stress reduction

When we rub our palms together, the blood and energy circulation in our hands increases, and it can have a rejuvenating effect on our minds. Whenever you feel weary or unfocused, you can quickly have a session of palm rubbing that will help regain your concentration and sharpen your thoughts. For instance, if you have a profession that involves typing work, you can take a moment’s break and indulge in palm rubbing to feel fresh and flushed with positive energy.

You can experience reduced stress by indulging in the practice of palm rubbing. Image courtesy: Freepik

2. Less anxious thoughts

Increased stress symptoms not only remain restricted to our mind, but can also show up physically. The warmth that is generated as a result of palm rubbing can soothe our nervous system, aiding in calming our mind and reducing symptoms of physical stress. Also, the rhythmic motion of rubbing your palms together can have therapeutic effects on your body, allowing you to become mindful of the warm sensation and momentarily detach from anxious thoughts.

3. An emotional sense of balance

The warmth and energy generated by this practice are believed to influence the heart chakra, which is directly related to our emotional well-being. By activating this energy centre of our body, palm rubbing can help release emotional blocks from our body and bring a sense of inner peace. This practice stimulates the flow of qi (vital energy) in traditional Chinese medicine, which is believed to revive the body’s energy reserves. If you feel drowsy, you can do this practice to wake up your senses and give yourself an instant energy boost.

4. Warmer hands

Some people suffer from cold hands or stiffness in their fingers. This condition especially gets elevated during colder months. For those people, the practice of palm rubbing comes as a boon. Such people can put this technique into practice and increase blood circulation in their hands, warming them up and resulting in more flexibility in their hands.

5. Good quality sleep

It can be very hard to sleep at night with tense body muscles and mind. If you practice this technique at night before sleeping, you will notice a calming effect on your nervous system that can prepare your mind and body for rest. By incorporating this technique into your bedtime routine, you can signal your body that it is time to unwind and doze off.

Palm rubbing helps to relieve stress and sleep better. Image courtesy: Freepik

6. Encourages mindfulness

When you feel that your mind is stuck in a loop of constant anxious thoughts, you can bring your senses to the present moment by practising this technique. This technique brings your awareness to the sensations in your hands and the warmth they generate. It can serve as a reminder to stay grounded in the present moment, helping you become more connected with your surroundings and tune into their needs.

7. Pain relief

The warmth that gets created in our hands after rubbing our palms can be applied to painful or sore areas of our body. This heat can help relax tense muscles and release discomfort, working as a natural remedy for minor pains and aches. When warmed-up hands are applied to painful spots, the blood flow on that part increases, promoting a soothing effect. For instance, you can also take advantage of the benefits of rubbing your hands and putting on your eyes if your eyes feel strained after working in front of the screens for a long.

8. Recovery and relaxation

People who indulge in intensive physical activities or yoga can feel weary at the end of the session. The warmth generated from rubbing palms can help release tension from wrists and hands. Palm rubbing is especially useful after engaging in intensive exercises or challenging poses, working as a form of gentle recovery and relaxation.

How to practice palm rubbing?

Now that you know the benefits of palm rubbing, it will help to know how to do this extremely simple and doable exercise correctly! Here is a step-by-step guide on how to rub your palms together:

1. Start by rubbing your hands together vigorously to generate heat. Continue doing so until you feel a noticeable warmth in your palms.

2. Place your warmed-up hands-on areas of discomfort like your eyes, face, or any other part where you wish to seek relief or relaxation.

3. Do try to incorporate palm rubbing into your everyday routine, in the morning as a mindful practice or post periods of intense physical activity.

4. To improve your spiritual well-being, you may practice palm rubbing every morning and combine it with a moment of prayer or gratitude.

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