Take Your Mind on a Mini-break

Stress experts are telling us that by the time we get that holiday it’s almost too late. Many of us are so run down before we get a break that when we finally get away our body takes a nose dive and decides to really let go by succumbing to exhaustion or a bug.

We know that a walk, swim, or yoga class are great ways to diffuse stress but a recent study found that we can also achieve great results in relaxation without even leaving our desk. A recent study at the University of Connecticut encouraged participants to try simple stress relief techniques that involved breathing slowly and visualising a peaceful place and found that: “Just four ‘mini relaxation’ stress management sessions (1 1/2 to 2 minutes) over the course of the day reduced work-related stress as effectively as 15-minute blocks of progressive muscle relaxation.”

This podcast includes a brief guided relaxation to help you give your mind a break - listen now:

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Loosen Your Grip!

Somebody recently described me as being calm and relaxed, and I was really happy about that because it wasn't always the case. So I'd like to share with you in this podcast about how I first noticed the high level of tension in my own body and took steps to adjust it.

I first noticed the tension my body was holding some time ago while brushing my teeth. I'd been doing some work on awareness and conscious relaxation, and as I stood at the sink performing a daily task that requires minimal energy I discovered I was holding my toothbrush with white knuckle tension. I took a deep breath, relaxed my vice like grip on my toothbrush and dropped my shoulders. The sense of relief was instant.

This got me thinking about other areas in my life where I was acting under tension and wasting energy. I found that driving was a definite area for adjustment and it just me that needed to loosen up! I started watching other drivers and I noticed people with screwed up faces, hunched shoulders and clenched hands gripping their steering wheels everywhere I looked.

I believe it's anxiety that makes us tense up and has us using excessive energy where only a light touch is required. Somehow when we're scared to let go and let flow, we grip. We hold on tightly and we use our muscles to cling on tightly to things that really require minimal muscular involvement.

That tension doesn't make us drive any better, or do anything any better. Research consistently shows that we all do everything better when we do it with relaxed awareness.

  Listen to the full podcast here and discover how you can start reducing the tension in your body today...

For Self Help Anxiety & Tension Relief try Restful Awareness

Restful Awareness

Research shows that stress and anxiety is often caused by constant incoming information. Restful Awareness is the perfect anti-dote. Discover how to switch off and sink into a state of deep relaxation with this soothing guided meditation.

Time: 12 minutes | Price: $3.95

 

 

View complete catalogue of all anxiety relief downloads here

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