From Sitting with Stress to Shaking It Out: Embracing Intuitive Movement for Nervous System Regulation
HYDERABAD — Hours spent hunched over textbooks and screens during exam season do more than cause physical fatigue; they lock emotional tension directly into the body. This somatic buildup often manifests as physical restlessness, headaches, and acute panic right outside the test hall.
A growing viral movement is encouraging adolescents to drop rigid fitness goals and instead practice “intuitive movement”—using 5-minute somatic releases like jumping around, shaking out their limbs, or a quick, mindful walk to reset their physiology.
“When academic stress peaks, the body enters a primal fight-or-flight state, which we often experience as paralyzing anxiety,” notes Dr. Shripuja Siddamsetty, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Corporate Trainer. “You cannot always think your way out of a physiological stress response. By using intuitive, unscripted movement, students actively discharge that pent-up nervous energy. It is a highly efficient, body-first technique that physically resets the nervous system, allowing teenagers to return to their exams with a grounded mind and a resilient body.”
