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!
recurring maid service Wilmette ..With almost 50% of workers complaining that their jobs are... Read More
Is your in-tray or inbox full? I don't normally check... Read More
Workplace stress is on the rise and it's costing corporate... Read More
When was the last time you took a day just... Read More
Imagine going through your whole life in the constant fear... Read More
An excellent stress reducer can be something as simple as... Read More
We are currently living in a capitalist society where money... Read More
Ask a hundred different people how to deal with stress... Read More
CHICAGO - According to a recent article in the September... Read More
Success in recovery, or rather, staying in recovery, is dependent... Read More
Don't let stress wear you down. Next time you are... Read More
One of my favorite stories about change is the story... Read More
Have you ever said the words, "This job/my life is... Read More
When September rolls around, does it generally hit you like... Read More
Do you feel tense and anxious at work? Do your... Read More
We so often take the feelings of happiness and saddness... Read More
In our article about Exercise & Stress, we looked at... Read More
You can learn a lot by watching children playing. There... Read More
Often, in today's fast paced world, we forget to take... Read More
Q: We recently had someone come to our company to... Read More
When it is all said and done, do you feel... Read More
This heading may seem like a contradiction in terms. How... Read More
Are You Too Stressed?Is your stomach all tied up in... Read More
Stress Vs PressureStress is something we all have, it's not... Read More
Every day we are faced with a situation where our... Read More
last minute cleaning help Highland Park ..No this is not related to praying, this is how... Read More
Amazing thing, overwhelm!You don't usually see it coming. It just... Read More
In these times when companies are constantly down-sizing and right-sizing... Read More
"Learn how to turn frustration into fascination. You will learn... Read More
What do you think of when you see that word?... Read More
Are You Too Stressed?Is your stomach all tied up in... Read More
The fast pace of life is taking toll on every... Read More
Did you ever feel like your "get-up-and-go" got up and... Read More
Life is so busy and as mothers we spend so... Read More
My son was watching a Richard Scarry video this morning... Read More
Do you often overreact to situations? Are you a constant... Read More
One of the dumbest things I have ever done is... Read More
There is good stress, and there is bad stress. Good... Read More
When I pay attention, I clearly see the arresting ways... Read More
For those of you who have been living in a... Read More
What is the greatest fear of man? Is it death?... Read More
In our article about Exercise & Stress, we looked at... Read More
Do you get out of your car with a queasy... Read More
?And holding it way down inside you like an old... Read More
STRESS & TIME MANAGEMENT: Stress is either the source or... Read More
Caring for a chronically ill loved one can be one... Read More
In a hectic world, it's all too easy to reach... Read More
Why is it that some people become totally stressed when... Read More
The brain uses feel-good transmitters called endorphins when managing daily... Read More
The predominant role human conditioning plays in a stressful environment.... Read More
Stress Management |