A 2-Minute Stress Buster
Meditation seems to have arrived in the mainstream of late, and for good reasons. As reported in a 2004 issue of Time Magazine -- brain imaging shows that meditation actually shifts your brain's activity from the right side of your brain, over to the left side. So what? Such a shift calms your brain's often overworked "rational thinking center," and reduces the stress response. This shift of activity to the left side of the brain immediately allows you to be less stressed -- and almost instantly far more relaxed and mentally focused. The following is a quick and easy seated meditation for rapid stress reduction, relaxed alertness, greatly increased energy and mental clarity. You'll also get an easy boost toward healthy longevity. This simple exercise takes advantage of the direct connection of your eyes to the optic nerve -- which is a direct pathway to the higher thinking centers of your brain. The resulting "message" tells your mind to unwind and release stress. The measurable *net result* is an instant increase in your slower alpha and theta brainwaves -- the meditation secret to calm mental awareness.
This is also a great way to instantly drop your blood pressure, and often also seems to have the effect of easing tension headaches. Just follow these simple steps to quickly bust your stress: 1. Sit upright in a comfortable chair, keeping your spine as straight as comfortable. (Don't force it.) 2. Position your feet flat on the floor. 3. Allow your eyes to gaze comfortably downward. 4. Soften your focus, and don't "look" at anything in particular. 5. Keep your eyes open, but allow your eyelids to "droop"as far down as comfortable (don't force them to drop lower). 6. Continue to gaze downward, focusing on nothing in particular. 7. Gently notice that your breathing has become very regular and comfortable. 8. Don't resist if your attention begins to drift. Just allow yourself to soften your focus and remain calm. 9. If your eyes want to close, let them do so. 10. Maintain your meditation for as long as you wish. End your meditation with two or three mentally-energizing deep, slow breaths. © 2004 All Rights Reserved The author, Dr Jill Ammon-Wexler, is a doctor of psychology, pioneer brain/mind researcher, and former advisor to the Pentagon, a Presidential Commission, and numerous top executives and executive teams. The author of several books and hundreds of articles, she is also the co-founder of quantum-self.com, and the Creative Director of the Self Discovery Community. She can be reached at: drjill@quantum-self.com Come visit the exciting Self Discovery Community. Discover the most interesting, unusual, stimulating and creative methods of self discovery on the web today! Free sizzling weekly ezine, and the web's first Brain Gym ezone. http://www.quantumbraingym.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Outdoor yogaBay Windows, MA - 1 hour agooutdoor yoga Join the folks of Keshet, the social and support group for Jewish LGBTs, for some trailside trances. After a scenic hike through the Blue Hills ... |
The Medicinal Powers Of YogaSify, India - 22 hours agoBut medical research that's been accumulating over the past 10 to 15 years is showing that yoga can provide health benefits that many people may not realize ... |
Five minutes with: Vicki Rickard, yoga instructorHilton Head Island Packet, SC - 1 hour agoBy JUSTIN PAPROCKI Photo: Yoga instructor Vicki Rickard, a co-host of WHHI's TV showHip Yoga, will be holding a free oceanfront yoga session from 4 to 5:30 ... |
YOGA IN LOS OLIVOSSanta Ynez Valley Journal, ca - 12 hours agoBy Wendy Thompson, Staff Writer You could say that Satchidananda made them do it — spread the joy and health benefits of yoga, that is. ... |
Yoga workshop to benefit college studentsdigitalBURG.com, MO - 10 hours ago"The Art of Yoga," a workshop teaching basic yoga practices, is coming to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Sept. 13 from 9 am to noon. ... |
Yoga InstructorsSeattle Post Intelligencer - Sep 3, 2008PRO Sports Club is the world's largest health club dedicated to unparalleled fitness, total luxury and expert advice. We are seeking only "top-notch" ... |
Yoga helps keep mind, body in shapeThe Times-Picayune - NOLA.com, LA - 13 hours agoBy Melinda Morris Everyone knows that yoga can reduce stress and increase flexibility. But Dawn Lauland, a certified yoga instructor, said it can improve ... |
Yoga - Google News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Manage Stress By Focusing On Solutions And By Having A Laugh
Marshal John Kruger acted by Arnold Schwarzenegger (who else) in the film "Eraser" protects a female employee in the defence industry who has exposed corruption and treason to the FBI.He rebukes one of his colleagues who calls the people he protects 'scum'.
Do You Have Your Foot On The Pedal? Are You Overwhelmed At Work?
Is your in-tray or inbox full? I don't normally check the time that emails are sent to me, but for some reason I noticed that Nadia's message had been
sent at 2am. In her email she explained that she really needed some help, to deal with all the stress in her life:This morning I rushed out of the house before the kids got
up.
Easy Elimination Of Worry & Stress!
It is very true that, unfortunately, many people look to reduce feelings of worry and stress by doing the very things that, ultimately, bring on more of the same. Alcohol, drugs, and over indulgence in the wrong types of food all seem to offer an immediate solution to get away from the stresses of the day.
Stress Management and Mastery: 5 Tips for Positive Anger Management
A grandfather, whose grandson came to him angry at a schoolmate who had done him an injustice, said,"I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those who have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down and doesn't hurt your enemy.
Sometimes C.O.P.I.N.G Is All We Can Do
We strive for excellence in our lives, going at full throttle, but sometimes we are faced with a situation where all we do is "hurry up and wait".That's when we need to learn about coping.
Empathy - Anxiety & Panic
If you are an anxiety and panic sufferer, then you've probably taken a fast learning track of how many people around you actually suffer from this one skill "empathy".How many times have you told yourself or maybe even to others "you don't understand" or "they don't understand what I'm going through".
Stress Management Shouldnt Create More Stress. 10 Ways To Reduce Unreasonable Stress and Boost Perf
We all know that stress levels in the workplace are reaching unreasonable levels. And most sensible human beings will agree that we have to take action to fix this problem.
Rested? The Three Keys to Finding True Rest, Just in Case
What do you think of when you see that word? Envy? Vague nostalgia? Familiar comfort? When did you last feel truly rested, and woke up feeling recharged, content, and ready to enjoy the day? If you're having trouble remembering, then read on.Rest is more than just going to bed at a good hour.
Choose a Stressless Lifestyle!
A stressless lifestyle? That's very easy to say.
Yet it is so important.
Stress Reduction and Sacred Moments
"The great lesson from the true mystics, from the Zen Monks, and now also from the Humanistic and Transpersonal psychologists - that the sacred is in the ordinary, that it is to be found in one's daily life, in one's neighbors, friends, and family, in one's back yard, and that travel may be a flight from confronting the sacred - this lesson can be easily lost. To be looking elsewhere for miracles is to me a sure sign of ignorance that everything is miraculous.
Build Your Stress Tolerance
While free-lancing for business magazines, I was assigned to write a story about a steel production company that supplied pipe to the energy industry. I was intrigued by the rigorous stress tests run on each piece of pipe.
Relieving Stress with Exercise... and Losing Body Fat in the Process!
Feeling stressed out lately? Don't worry, there is a simple and incredibly effective solution -- one that will help you lose weight in more ways than you might think!Relieving Stress with ExerciseResearch has proven that relieving stress with exercise is one of the best ways to improve your overall health. Regular exercise provides an amazing array of anti-stress benefits to the human body -- including reduced muscle tension, improved cardiovascular functioning, increased blood oxygen levels, and reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels, just to name a few.
8 Practical Methods to Remain Empowered During Stressful Times
1. Acknowledge that requesting support, guidance and partnership is not the same as being needy.
Are You Leap-Frogging from Vacation to Vacation? Try Lily-Padding...
It's summertime and chances are you can remember a summer vacation when life moved at a slower pace. It felt so good to just enjoy the days and nights.
Conquering Stress and Depression with Exercise
One of the best ways to combat stress and depression is to make physical fitness a part of your daily routine. Aside from the proven health benefits of exercise, people who exercise regularly are more apt to deal with stressful situations more easily, handle physical work tasks better, and tend to be less susceptible to illness and injuries.
How to Say No and Let Go of Stress
It was one of the first words you learned to say and you used it at every opportunity. Until someone convinced you that you couldn't, or shouldn't.
Stress Managment and Mastery: Break the Rules!
Of all the sources of stress in our lives, faulty emotional rules are one of the most debilitating. These faulty emotional rules are typically ingrained during childhood and become a part of how we live.
Control Stress or It Will Control Your Business
When we think about stress in the workplace, we usually refer to ulcers or heart conditions, but stress has a much broader impact. It is known that stress is linked to cancer, lung ailments, cirrhosis of the liver, immunity to common illnesses, back problems, and many other medical problems.
Workplace Stress: What to Do During Down Times?
The main problem in a down economy is that workplaces tend to become stressful and morale bottoms out. This reduces overall productivity and especially gets in the way of teamwork.
Stress Management Through Altering Beliefs And Increasing Knowledge
Most humans experience unexpected setbacks which can cause huge stress and can halt their forward progress in life. Our attitudes, beliefs and knowledge can make a big difference to how we deal with these setbacks.
|
