Yesterday I talked of pushing your relax or pause button. We all
know that it is really impossible to dissolve all of our stress.
However, there are truly ways to manage our stress. I think there is
absolutely no way to rid ourselves completely of stress. If I knew a
way, I would certainly share it with you.
Much research has
gone into activating the body's ability to relax. In many cases it
takes more work to relax than it does to work. Some of us do not know
how to relax. Dr. H. Benson at Harvard Mind-Body Institute notes that
activating the relaxation response can be a great alternative or
reduction tool for chronic stress, either physical, social, or mental in
nature. Exercise is one of those tools. First, I want to talk about
one of my favorites.
Have you ever said to yourself, "Take a deep
breath?" I have also. Especially when dealing with my children.
There is a process or a tool that has actually been proven to help
people with relaxation. It is known by researchers that shallow
breathing does lead to more tension and over time will lead to fatigue.
There is an alternative to this type of breathing but it must be on
conscious level. Diaphragmatic breathing is a very powerful way to
decrease the amount of tension in your body. This is done by overriding
the brainstem's central control mechanism of breathing.
There are
also other techniques. In my former practice, it was used all the
time. Lamaze breathing exercises are absolutely proven to decrease pain
and tension. Other sources of the pause button are:
- Prayer
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Regular exercise-walking, jogging, or swimming
- Yoga
- Guided Imagery
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Laughter Therapy
- Acupuncture
- Sleep
- Hot bath (2 cups of Epsom salt and 8-10 drops of lavender essential oil) for 20 minutes
- Massage
- Herbal support
I
believe in relaxation. However, I need to do more also. If you are
interested in receiving information about Diaphragmatic breathing, you
can go to my website at www.AmericaBeThin.com and download a short
article. You should put it up at your desk, your kitchen sink, or where
ever you might need a nudge to relax. I hope you enjoy.
Remember,
you don't always have to hit the play button!