Sometimes I feel so wound up inside, and exercise or dancing just isn’t enough. It’s like I have this cement block of tension, and the only thing that’ll shake it up is an internal vibration. Is this beginning to sound weird? Bear with me.

Singing and toning bring me immediate stress relief. I’ll sing along to my favorites, but sometimes it’s not words that I want, but sounds. Pure sound is vibration. Have you been in a yoga class where they’ve done some toning or chanted the sacred syllable OM? That’s what I’m talking about.

Here’s what to do for instant internal stress relief:

Create a comfortable, private place where you don’t have to worry about being heard by others.

Start with deep, low tones and feel how they vibrate in your belly. Then play with the sound and pay attention to how it feels. Bring the sound up and down your body. Which tones loosen your chest? Which tone for your shoulders?

Don’t do any of this to sound perfect, but to play with the vibration. Let yourself make the weirdest noises, not because of how they sound but because of how they feel.

Toning is the subtlest inner massage that you can control yourself. Why wait? Tone, groan and moan your way to transcendent relaxation. No one's watching!

Image: Stoker Studios