It is very true that, unfortunately, many people look to reduce feelings of worry and stress by doing the very things that, ultimately, bring on more of the same. Alcohol, drugs, and over indulgence in the wrong types of food all seem to offer an immediate solution to get away from the stresses of the day.
Now, I am not condemning sensible drinking or occasionally eating the 'wrong' type of food as a rare treat but the daily ingestion of such substances simply leads to poor health and a whole host of related negativity.
The question, though, is what are the alternatives? How can I relax and unwind without a few drinks?
The truth of the matter is this. A real, instantly accessible, answer is within you and you do it each day without even thinking about it. If you learn to harness this inner power you will, literally, have a way of eliminating stress, or at least greatly reducing it, without the need for things that are bad for you.
What is this 'inner power' I hear you cry! Very simply, it is your breath!
By learning a few simple exercises you can go a long way to beating stress while feeling healthier and more positive. If you perform repetitive actions such as deep breathing exercises then this helps in blocking out stressful thoughts. The more you repeat the activity and become proficient at it the easier it will be to unwind.
For an example of such an exercise try the one below for five minutes and feel how it aids in relaxation and reduces feelings of stress and worry.
1. Sit comfortably with your back straight. Place your hands on a table or desk in front of you.
2. From this position inhale until you feel you are full of air. As you do this I want you to imagine you are pulling a white pure light into your abdomen.
3. On completion of the inhalation hold this white light for a second (at most) in your abdomen then exhale.
4. Repeat five times slowly. This is the first step.
5. Now lets advance this! Do the same as above and have the white light in your abdomen area.
6. This time though do not simply exhale. Instead, as you exhale, imagine this white light spreading from your abdomen throughout your entire body. As it spreads into your legs, feet, chest and head allow it to soothe and relax your major body parts.
7. Do this at least five times slowly. This requires a slow exhale to allow time for you to visualise this pure, relaxing, white light time to spread throughout your whole being. Feel your muscles (and mind) loose any unnecessary tension.
Try this right now.
Give yourself five minutes to experience how just your controlled breath can really make a difference. At the end of each day perform this for five to ten minutes. Not only will it help tension to melt from your mind it will also benefit your health through your deep focused breathing gently massaging your internal organs.
Have at it!
? Tim Webb 2005
Tim Webb is a fitness instructor, Ju Jutsu instructor and competitor. He specialises in easily accessible deep breathing exercises that combine breath and mind together. His site http://www.breathforsuccess.com/ offers a product that provides deep breathing exercises for invigorating yourself, relaxing, and highlights how your breath can be tied in with your goals to move you towards them in record time!
professional maid services Deerfield ..Did you know that taking a short trip, such as... Read More
Life is so busy and as mothers we spend so... Read More
Burt Reynolds revealed his vulnerable side when he realized he... Read More
1. The Law of StagnationThis is also known as first... Read More
Looking for mindfulness? Who ya gonna call?Try dialing M.It's easy... Read More
According to the Australian Council of Trade Unions' (A.C.T.U.) 1997... Read More
Do you get out of your car with a queasy... Read More
I have yet to see a scientist talk about the... Read More
Here's an amazing quote from Time magazine:"At birth a baby's... Read More
What good is Personal or Business Success...if your Health is... Read More
The future is nothing but a fantasy or a daydream,... Read More
"When you breathe, you inspire. When you do not breathe,... Read More
What is Stress?Stress may be defined as the three-way relationship... Read More
Stress can affect virtually any part of the body and... Read More
Are you a person who has a keen imagination, a... Read More
In these times when companies are constantly down-sizing and right-sizing... Read More
For those who are suffering from stress, just about the... Read More
Meditation seems to have arrived in the mainstream of late,... Read More
Stress and anxiety can prematurely age our mind and body.... Read More
I'm so excited that I have discovered this secret today.... Read More
When September rolls around, does it generally hit you like... Read More
Why Stress Management programmes don't work?It seems that every week... Read More
Do you feel stress at work? Do you carry your... Read More
There is good stress, and there is bad stress. Good... Read More
1)Excessive worryNo, I'm not saying "don't worry, be happy."Well-used worry... Read More
quick home cleaning Lake Forest ..With almost 50% of workers complaining that their jobs are... Read More
We all have it; we live with it daily: stress.... Read More
Caring for a chronically ill loved one can be one... Read More
Comedian George Carlin once remarked, "Have your ever noticed? Anyone... Read More
What part of no don't you understand? - Bumper stickerThe... Read More
Is your in-tray or inbox full? I don't normally check... Read More
It is an inescapable fact, we live in a stressful... Read More
Q. I wonder if you could help me with a... Read More
Health Impacts of StressStress is a funny concept, try to... Read More
More than two-thirds of visits to doctors' surgeries are for... Read More
In the fast-paced world that we live in today, it... Read More
In these times when companies are constantly down-sizing and right-sizing... Read More
STRESS & TIME MANAGEMENT: Stress is either the source or... Read More
We are currently living in a capitalist society where money... Read More
To be a safe and predictable person for those around... Read More
Picture the following scene:It's Sunday evening, the weekend is winding... Read More
"We do not stop playing because we grow old. We... Read More
Stress is often seen as being unhealthy, but for some... Read More
Preparing for sleep the night before is the place to... Read More
There are two types of anxiety:*Situational *Existential.Most of us experience... Read More
The fall season signals a shift in most people's minds.... Read More
Meditation, relaxation and visualisation are the standard recommendations for reducing... Read More
Q: What is Stress?A: Very basically it is the physical,... Read More
Perhaps you've heard of the 80/20 rule, but don't know... Read More
One of the dumbest things I have ever done is... Read More
Stress Management |