"Stress Reduction - Relaxation Techniques For A Healthy Body!"
Stress reduction techniques are a great way to quiet a troubled mind. Many times, high levels of stress interfere with normal activities of daily living.
Elevated stress levels can cause an increase in blood pressure, putting you at greater risk for a stroke or heart attack.
Relaxation techniques can have beneficial effects on your body, including:
When we experience stress, our bodies undergo various hormonal changes. This automatic, involuntary reaction to stress, is known as the fight-or-flight syndrome.
When that happens, the heart rate increases, our muscles become tense, breathing becomes shallow, and our digestive and immune systems momentarily shut down.
The stress reduction techniques listed below may help you reduce anxiety levels and/or help induce sleep.
Focusing
First of all, find a nice, quiet place, where you can sit or lie down. Next, select an object that you like a great deal.
It can be anything, earrings, a picture, as long as it is something that is pleasant to you.
Focus on this object as you inhale and exhale slowly for several minutes. Try to keep distracting thoughts from entering your mind.
If they do, just return your focus to the object. Try to do this exercise for fifteen minutes each day.
Any anxiety you may have had should be diminished at the conclusion of this exercise.
Oak Tree Meditation
Again, find a comfortable place, free from distractions.
Visualize your body as a strong oak tree. Imagine roots growing from your body into the soil, securing your body.
Your trunk is strong and sturdy, like the trunk of an oak tree.
When stressful thoughts occur, see yourself as that strongly grounded oak tree. Try to feel the strength and solidity in your extremities and entire body.
Try to do this 15 minutes each day.
Grounding Cord Meditation
Sit in a comfortable position, arms relaxed and at your sides. Close your eyes and begin to breathe slowly.
Now imagine a thick, wide cord attached to the base of your spine. It can be any material, such as a rope, a tree trunk, or any material strong and sturdy.
We will call this our grounding cord.
Next, imagine a very large hook attached to one end of this cord. Then visualize it dropping 200 feet below ground, attaching to the rock-hard bedrock.
Continue to breathe deeply, focusing on the sense of peace and stability your grounding cord gives you.
Try to do this at least fifteen minutes daily.
Replace this imaginary cord if your emotions get out of control.
Shoulder Shrug
With this stress reduction technique, try to raise your shoulders up as far as possible. Hold this position for a count of four.
Now drop your shoulders back to a normal position and relax. Repeat three times.
Shoulder Rotation
Rotate your shoulders back, down, and around, first in one direction, and then the other. Then rotate only one shoulder in this circular direction, and then the other shoulder.
Repeat three times.
Quiet Ears
Lie on your back keeping your eyes closed.
Place your hands behind your head in a relaxed position.
Close the ear canal by placing your thumbs in your ears.
A normal high-pitched rushing sound will be heard.
Listen to it for 10 to 15 minutes.
Next, lower your arms to your sides, relaxing them as you prepare to go to sleep.