Stress Management Techniques
Stress is the leading cause of major illnesses. Releasing stress and learning how to relax promotes a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life. The fastest stress management technique I have found to date is two fold:
Step 1: Breathe Deeply
Take three slow deep breaths. Taking the breath from your diaphragm, through your nose, holding for about 2 seconds and then slowly exhaling through your mouth. Why slow deep breaths? Because when we are under stress, we tense up, constricting the oxygen to our body. Taking slow deep breaths brings oxygen throughout our body resulting in feeling centered and releasing stress.
Step 2: Meditate
The purpose of meditation is to relax and to release stress. Meditation allows the body to relax and permits a means to release the "chatter" in your mind. It is important for you to know that there is no right or wrong way to meditate. Meditation is simply a form of concentration and focus; it is a process that quiets the mind. Since much of our negative stress is caused by our own thoughts, this is an especially useful method.
Another Method
Here are steps for a popular, quick, and easy meditation:
1. Get into a comfortable position and close your eyes.
2. Take the 3 deep breaths.
3. Visualize all the stress in your mind and body as a cloud of grey smoke. Allow this cloud to be released through the crown of your head. Imagine the grey cloud floating into the sky and disappearing. Feel the weight of the stress being releasing out of your body and into the cloud. Allow your shoulders to drop and continue until you have no more grey smoke or for about 10 minutes.
4. Imagine a healing white light that has surrounded your body. Feel the warmth of this light and allow it to infiltrate your body. Slowly open your eyes.
Additional Resources
Marla's Meditation Music CDs make it easier than ever to truly relax. Remember to sign up for Weekly Positive Affirmations and start to see positive results!
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