Stress does not stay in the mind. It settles into the jaw, neck, ribs, hips, hands, belly, and breath. After a long day, the body can feel like it is quietly bracing for impact, even when nothing dangerous is happening. Stretching gives that bracing somewhere to go. A gentle stretch will not solve every source of stress, and it is not a substitute for medical or mental health care. Still, it can help the body shift out of a tense, guarded state. When paired with slow breathin