10 Ways to Move Stagnant Energy in the Body

In midlife it becomes necessary to develop practices that move stagnant energy in the body. This is a time when setting boundaries—both with others and with spirit—becomes essential, and your energy needs protection and care more than ever. Remember, we are all energy, constantly interacting with the world around us. Over time, it’s natural to pick up external energy, and if left unchecked, it can drain your vitality. Creating daily practices to keep your energy, prana, or life force flowing is crucial for your well-being.

A clear sign of stagnant energy is when your ego takes over. Repetitive thought patterns of fear, shame, or jealousy can create blockages that settle in your body. Tension in the body is often tension in the mind. When we dwell in constant worry or negativity, this energy accumulates in unexpected places. By consciously nourishing your soul with daily rituals, you support the flow of energy in your body, preventing it from manifesting as physical symptoms such as stiffness, pain, or, if ignored long-term, more serious dis-ease.

During this phase of life and personal evolution, moving stagnant energy daily is not optional—it’s vital. Below, you’ll find my top 10 practices for keeping your energy flowing, supporting your body, mind, and spirit as you navigate midlife with clarity and resilience.   

1) Drink More Water
Our physical bodies are 60% water, therefore we are highly influenced and affected by water. Much like the moon effects the tides. Drinking more water is a simple way to keep energy flowing in the body and has numerous health benefits.  One of the 5 elements, water helps to ground your energy.  When you are grounded, the energy channels are open.  I encourage you to choose alkaline water filers or spring water as the quality of the water is important.  In the Vancouver area, we are blessed to have access to a natural spring where we can collect water that is safe for drinking.  Visit Find A Spring to locate a spring in your area. If you don't believe this, I encourage you to check out the research done by Dr. Masaru Emoto The Hidden Messages in Water, Messages from Water and the Universe, or The True Power of Water.  

2)  Move Your Body
Whether you enjoy running, walking, or dance, it is important to move your body every single day.  I want to make very clear that I am not subscribing to the no pain, no gain philosophy of diet culture, as I believe that this can cause energy stagnation through injury or overexertion.  Find an exercise that you truly enjoy and make it a priority.  Even if you only have 10 minutes on a given day, do it anyway.  Trust me, your body will thank you for it.  5 minutes is better than no minutes. Also, the getting it done, even if only 5 minutes, builds consistency and creates a habit.   

3)  Stretch
It is important to stretch daily to keep the energy moving in the body.  Increased flexibility means better energy flow.  Once again, if you find yourself pressed for time, get out of bed a couple minutes earlier and bend over and reach for your toes.  Hold this for a minute or two.  Doing this simple act every morning, has proven to increase flexibility in the hamstrings at the end of the year.  If you have more time, I recommend either a Yin or Kundalini yoga class to really get the energy flowing.  

4)  Get Outside
There is plenty of research that proves the benefits of earthing or grounding, and forest bathing.  If you want to keep your frequency high (extremely important in these intense times), it is imperative that you get outside in Nature for at least 10 minutes every day.  Put your bare feet on the grass to really connect with Mother Earth.  Take a few deep breaths to bring your self into the present moment and bring awareness to the sounds around you.  Do you hear birds, flowing water, feel the breeze on your skin?  Nature is incredibly calming and brings your focus to the beauty that is all around you.  If you can't get outside, meditate with a crystal.  Crystals come from the Earth and act much like a computer database, storing all the information they have ever been exposed to.  Each crystal emits a unique frequency, which can interact with your own, helping to move energy in your body. If you don’t have a crystal, take a shower and as the water run overs you, imagine that it is washing away anything that is weighing you down.  

5) Breathe 
Breathe is our connection to Creator. The yogis believed that we were born with a fixed number of breaths and therefore developed and practiced techniques to slow the breath.  Conscious breath gives momentum to stagnant energy, so it can serve a better purpose.  

6)  Take a Shower or Salt Bath
Much like brushing your teeth is essential for oral health, you must cleanse the body daily to remove not only the physical gunk, but the energetic as well.  If you are taking a shower, as the water flows over your body, visualize it removing any negativity that has attached on you throughout the day and wash it down the drain. If you feel particularly stagnant, I encourage you to take a salt water bath.  Salt has the ability to remove negative and dull energies around you, freeing any blockages.   

7)  Clean Your Space and Use Smoke Medicine
It has been my personal experience that when my living environment is messy, cluttered, or unorganized, my life is as well.  This often signals that we are in a state of overwhelm, which leads to stagnant energy in the body.  When your space is tidy and organized, your life flows so much better, which directly correlates to better bodily energy flow.  Once your space is clean, I recommend that you use either sage, palo santo, or your favourite essential oils, to banish any lingering negative energies, bringing about fresh positivity.  

8)  Set Boundaries
In midlife, setting boundaries becomes essential. You may find that certain behaviors you once tolerated no longer serve you, and that’s okay. It’s especially important to pay attention to the people in your life—those who uplift and energize you versus those who leave you feeling drained. This period often calls for difficult conversations or even letting go of relationships, jobs, or situations that no longer align with your values. Honouring what you know in your heart allows energy to flow freely in your body, supporting your mind, body, and spirit. 

9)  Eat Natural Foods
When we consume overly-processed foods high in sugar, caffeine or junk food, we bring negative and lower frequencies into the body.  Alternatively, when we choose natural foods, we bring those frequencies into our body.  It is also important to practice mindfulness when eating, this will bring awareness to how you feel after you eat certain foods, also known as Intuitive Eating.   

10)  Energy Work
Energy work focuses on supporting the body’s natural flow of energy. A practitioner works with the subtle energy fields surrounding and within the body, helping to gently release blockages and restore balance. By harmonizing the body’s energy, this work can promote relaxation, and support overall wellbeing.  

This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.

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