The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.
~~Anne Frank
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If your teeth are clenched and your fists are clenched, your lifespan is probably clenched. ~Terri Guillemets
Today’s life is full of headaches, deadlines, hassles, obligations, frustrating people, traffic and a slew of other things that can bring on unwanted stress. However, if you don’t handle it properly and work at relieving stress you can shorten your lifespan or have a number of health issues because of it.
Here are a few of the health issues that can be brought on by stress:
~Heart disease
~Depression
~Weight Gain
~Weight Loss
~Digestive problems
~Skin problems
~Sleep problems
~Autoimmune diseases
Work on stress relief so you can live a long healthy life!
Exercise is one of the best stress management tools accessible to you.
Though, many won’t make the time or fit it into their schedules-not realizing if they exercised for even twenty minutes they’d be able to function more efficiently and actually be able to save time and be stress free to boot!
Exercise releases beta endorphins that actually counteract the effects of stress in the body-it signals the body that the danger (stress) is gone and the body can begin to relax.
You don’t have to go out and join a gym or run a marathon right away to feel the stress relieving benefits of exercise. Find something you enjoy and can do easily without added stress.
Walking-it’s fun, it’s easy and gives you a chance to get out in the fresh air. You can walk alone and spend time in thought, prayer or grab a friend and make a social event of it.
Bicycling-there’s something about the wind in your hair and the breeze hitting you that is exhilarating and refreshing. Find a bike path or go to a park or hit the bike trails and enjoy.
Yoga-some quiet time to build your coordination, flexibility, circulation, posture, strength and complete body conditioning and de-stress at the same time.
Swimming-if you love the water or want something you can do that’s easy on the joints, muscles and bones try swimming.
Dance-dance at home or go out dancing with your friends or significant other. Get those feet moving and enjoy the music!
Running/Jogging-no, you don’t need to go run a marathon immediately-but do get those running shoes on and take an invigorating run. Enjoy the sounds and scenery as you go (yes, you can run and enjoy it without constantly being plugged into your ipod)-brings you closer to the environment around you.
Whatever form of exercise you enjoy, make time to do it!
The benefits of exercising are countless but here’s a few:
~Improved ability to manage and deal with stress
~Decrease in the effects of stress
~Increased energy
~Improved self-esteem and self-image
~Improved quality of sleep
~Decrease in body fat
~Strengthening of your immune system
~Improved heart & lung efficiency
~Decreased risk of developing heart or lung disease
~Reduced blood pressure
~Reduced cholesterol levels
So, what are you waiting for?
Get up and get exercising and reap all the wonderful benefits!
Your work/job makes up a large portion of your life. Whether you work for yourself or have a J.O.B. most people spend 8-10 hours a day dealing with work. Your life can be more stressful from situations at work if you don’t know how to deal with certain stressors. No worries though, you can have a more balanced and less stressed out life if you can manage, balance, avoid, confront or better yet eliminate the stress in the work environment.
Here are a few quick tips to help you:
1)Eliminate the stressor–if it’s a task you hate, delegate it to someone else or share with a co-worker, partner.
2)Avoid the stressor–is there a co-worker that just drives you up a wall? Avoid them as much as possible.
3)Manage the stressor–give yourself a reward after accomplishing a task that is stressful, that way you have something enjoyable to look forward to.
4)Confront the stressor–if a co-worker, supervisor or someone else is making your job more stressful or difficult, confront them and get it worked out, they may not even know what they’re doing or saying is stressing you.
5)Learn how to balance–if you have no other options, then deal with the stress but once you’re away from the work place you’ll need to practice some form of stress relief techniques or hire a stress management coach to help you along the way to a calmer, more balanced, less stressful life (in and out of the work place).
Naturally Reduce Health-Threatening Stress, Enjoy Better Sleep, Even Improve Your Relationships, In Just A Few Minutes Each Day
Are you suffering from stress-related symptoms, including…
Moodiness
Trouble sleeping
Poor emotional control
Chronic fatigue
Change in appetite
Change in sex drive
Weight gain
A feeling of helplessness
Feelings of dependence
Feeling stressed out
It’s hardly surprising. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), up to 90% of all primary care visits are related to stress symptoms like these.
And more startling, stress is responsible for 80% to 85% of ALL human illnesses.
From depression to heart disease, strokes to migraines, and even chronic pain and reproductive issues, stress is responsible for some of the most debilitating — even life threatening — illnesses we know.
But what if you could FREE yourself from stress, and the troubling symptoms that accompany it, just by spending a few minutes doing something that’s actually FUN and ENTERTAINING?
By using a scientifically PROVEN, non-invasive method of stress relief that literally thousands of people are already taking advantage of to enjoy healthy minds and happy bodies?
A method that will begin to show you results within the first 15 minutes?
This is a Program That Will Equip Anyone With The Ability To Manage Their Time So Effectively, It Will Seem As Though You’ve Literally Created More Hours In Day
Do you feel that you can never get things done simply because you just don’t have the time?
Do you often wonder where the hours in the day go as you realize that yet another project was either delayed or not even started?
Are you having trouble taking action to achieve goals that you know would enrich your life because right now you’re trapped in a time frenzy?
If you answered yes to any one of these questions, don’t worry because you’re not the first person who has experienced these feelings and you certainly won’t be the last.
Time is the only thing that each and every person on the earth is equally equipped with.
No One Can Create Any More Time In Their Day Than Anyone Else… It’s What You Do With Your Time Will Separate You From Everyone Else
With the new “Time Frenzy” program, you become the master of time rather than allowing time to control you.
How Laughter Yoga Reduces Mental stress
compliments of http://www.laughteryoga.org
Our breathing is connected to our state of mind. It is apparent that the state of mind directly affects breathing. When in a stressful emotional state or turmoil, the breathing pattern alters drastically. It becomes faster, shallow and irregular. Sometimes people even hold their breath under stress which leads to an accumulation of carbon dioxide in the blood.
Mental stress occurs due to arousal of sympathetic branch of over autonomic nervous system which is very sensitive to carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Laughter Yoga provides an excellent cardiac workout and triggers a breathing pattern that offers significant respiratory benefits. It lowers the amount of residual air in the lungs, replacing it with oxygen-rich air. This reduces the level of carbon dioxide in the lungs and prevents the stress arousal system.
Diaphragmatic breathing
The best way to reduce mental stress is to activate parasympathetic system which is opposite of sympathetic system. This can be done by changing the way we breathe. If we can learn to breathe from the diaphragm mental stress can not occur even if you have stressful thoughts in the mind. You body simply will not react to stressful thoughts.
The diaphragm is a dome shaped muscular partition between the chest and the abdomen. It plays an important role in the most vital function of respiration. During inhalation the diaphragm contracts and pulls down to make a space for expansion of lungs and during exhalation it relaxes and pushes the lungs to facilitate exhalation.
By shifting the breathing pattern from shallow to deep diaphragmatic breathing, it stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which is the cooling branch of the autonomic nervous system and is the opposite of the sympathetic stress arousal system. This scientific phenomenon coupled with ancient yogic wisdom of breathing makes this concept a unique exercise regime to loosen stress and relieve anxiety.
One of the prime objectives of Laughter Yoga is to learn how to move the diaphragm and shift the awareness of breathing from the chest to the deep abdominal breathing. With the movement of the diaphragm we can bring our emotions under conscious control.
Bliss means supreme happiness, utter joy or contentment.
Doesn’t that sound wonderful?
“Stress is not what happens to us.
It’s our response TO what happens.
And RESPONSE is something we can choose.”
Maureen Killoran
“When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question:
Will this matter in 5 years from now?
If yes, then do something about the situation.
If no, then let it go.”
Catherine Pulsifer
Which would you prefer?
a feeling of total bliss or stress?
Apply the two quotes above in your daily life and you can lessen your stress.
Tai Chi is excellent for stress relief
Tai Chi uses a series of gentle, graceful, flowing movements that can be used to relieve the stress of your busy lifestyle. Emphasis is on the conscious circulation of vital energy through your body and concentration, relaxation of it.
Tai Chi’s roots come from martial arts; however, now is widely practiced for relieving stress, calming your mind and body conditioning.
Tai chi is safe for people of all ages no matter their fitness level since it’s a low impact series of moves. It can be done nearly anywhere once you’ve learned how. If you have any health or flexibility/mobility concerns, please consult with a Tai Chi instructor first.
If you don’t know anyone in your area that teaches Tai Chi, go to the Tai Chi Network and search for practitioners there.
Tai Chi Chaun can be used for:
* Reducing stress
* Increasing feelings of wellness & well-being
* Increasing energy and stamina
* Improving definition and muscular strength
* Increasing flexibility and agility
I just bought and received Meditations by Cindy Ashton and as expected, it’s AWESOME, INSPIRING.
Many people stress about desires to be successful, wanting to overcome situations and wanting to achieve dreams and goals. This cd can help you. You will enjoy this cd for approx. 45 mins and the lasting effects it will have on your day. Start the day off to “I am Courage” and you can begin your day with courage, clarity and on a positive note.
If you’ve got stress combated, this is still an excellent meditation cd to keep yourself in a positive focused element.
The music compliments Cindy’s soothing voice, making this a complete harmonious serene listening experience.
You will feel tranquil, at peace while also being drawn closer to your visions, desires, success and courage.
It’s an excellent way to start your day, getting your body and mind set to take on the world in the positive spirited way we’re meant to experience life!
If you’d like to experience this inspiring encounter of meditations and harmony, click the image to go to Cindy Ashton’s site
The CD contains:
1. I am Courage (4:29)
This daily affirmation will inspire you to step into your life with courage, confidence and an open heart. Either kick start your day with positivity or end your day with a calm knowing.
2. The Courage to Vision Your Desires (21:28)
Feel radiant and powerful as you dive deep into your desires. Vision all aspects of your life and how magnificent it is as you achieve your dreams.
3. The Courage to be Successful (18:20)
Remember the moments in your life when you found your authentic power and achieved success. Carry those feelings forward to rediscover the confidence and brilliance within yourself.
