"Relax," she whispered, as she poured hot oil down my spine. I'd been waiting-no, clinging on by the fingernails-for this massage, after a particularly intense few months expanding my skincare line, Reome. "Relax." One word that, ostensibly, should have helped my tightly coiled body unfurl. And yet, nothing.
My fingers stayed crunched into a fist; my body, leaden; my mind, running a helpful ticker tape of the things I'd not yet done that day. Relaxed? I was anything but. Not because I didn't want to. I'd just forgotten how.
We've built entire industries around the art of relaxation.
We have all the wellness spas, crystals, heated blankets, sound baths, and Oura rings you could shake a (palo santo) stick at. But collectively, our nerves are more fried than ever. And women are disproportionately impacted. We continue to report higher stress levels, and are more likely to internalise anxiety, while men are more likely to disassociate. "Women are often the emotional containers for their family, too," says Nahid de Belgeonne, a somatic-movement practitioner and author of Soothe: The Book Your Nervous System Has Been Longing For Frankly, it's exhausting.
Could it be that, in the most advanced age in history, we have lost touch with that most primitive of human traits: The ability to wind down? TikTok thinks so. It has been hit with a tidal wave of bio-hacking clips, each offering a new and evermore accessible way to do away with external relaxation tools and hack directly into the motherboard-our nervous system -chiefly through resetting the 'rock-star' vagus nerve.
Denne historien er fra June 2024-utgaven av ELLE Singapore.
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Denne historien er fra June 2024-utgaven av ELLE Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Paradise In Slow Motion
Lush landscapes, pristine beaches, colonial architecture, abundant wildlife and warm hospitality-Sri Lanka is a treasure trove of experiences best savoured at leisure.
Rebel With A Cause
Stylistic dichotomies lie at the heart of Chinese designer Di Du's work. She shares how this love for the subversive has been the key to her namesake label's success.
Count The Seconds
Never underestimate the power of a watch to elevate your look-even more so when it's a good-looking chronograph. These BELOW-40MM NUMBERS will do the trick.
The Promising Future Of Skin
From ectoins to nutricosmetics to collagen banking, the latest cosmetic trends are looking bright.
Johnny Depp 'I Am The 2,000-Year-Old Man!'
Johnny Depp is back in the limelight. Behind the camera, he has directed his second film, MODI, set for release this autumn. In front of the camera, he is still embodying "SAUVAGE" for Christian Dior Parfums with a new scent, "EAU FORTE". In this exclusive interview with ELLE, the polymorphous artist opens up about his creative journey.
A Timeless Love Story
Far from being at war with each other, disparate generations can be brought together by tumultuous times-with transformative consequences. PHOEBE LUCKHURST celebrates the charm, comfort, and community found in an ageless approach to friendship.
CHIC in the city
South Korean actress Mun Ka Young shows how to rock TUMI's fall 2024 collection that's inspired by the dynamic architecture of Seoul.
Igniting the Creative Spark
MUST-SEE EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES WORTH CATCHING DURING Singapore Design Week.
SPEED Queens
Racing veteran Susie Wolff talks about closing the gender gap in motorsports with an all-girls racing championship.
Crème de la Crème
Ultra-luxurious moisturisers that will have your r skin looking like radiant perfection.