Recently I saw a show on television that spoke of the stress we experience in today’s technological world, filled with over-stimulus and constant bombardment of noise in the guise of communication. The doctor who spoke of the problem also gave some methods for dealing with stress and creating more harmony within the body. She cited three possibilities.
1. When you feel tense, pause for a moment and do this simple exercise: Breathe in to the count of 4 through your nose. Hold the breath for the count of 7, and breathe out through your mouth to the count of 8. Repeat this 4 times, and then breathe naturally. It lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and brings a natural tranquilizing effect to the body.
2. Imagine yourself in a place that you enjoyed thoroughly. This can be a vacation setting that gave you joy, or any other place within nature where you felt at peace and connected. Do not just think this image, feel it in your body. As you do, it will lower your blood pressure, and drop the heart rate by 20%
3. Practice laughing. Laughter is used in China therapeutically, and offers a cardio-vascular workout while also releasing endorphins.
These natural methods for releasing tension have mind/body benefits and are enjoyable as well. We may live and work in stressful environments, but we have the ability to do things to make our lives more harmonious no matter where we are.