How to Relax

Taking the time to relax deeply every day even for even a few minutes will give you all the healing benefits of your body's natural defence against stress called the Relaxation Response. Science has long recognized the body's natural protective response called the "fight or flight" response which increases heart and breathing rates, elevates blood pressure, and releases stress hormones like cortisol into the bloodstream. But it was not until the groundbreaking work at Harvard Medical School by Dr. Herbert Benson that the body's natural counter-balance to the "fight or flight" stress response was identified. This natural set of psysiological changes brought on by states of deep relaxation has been shown to heal and repair the physical damage caused by excessive stress in our lives.

1. The first element is a quiet environment. This means turning off the phone, and finding a safe undisturbed quiet place with minimal external distractions.

2. The second element is a comfortable position. Although lying down may in some cases make relaxation easier, it can also bring the risk of falling asleep. The best position is one in which you can remain comfortably for 20 minutes without drifting off to sleep.

3. The third element is something to focus your mind upon when your thoughts start to wander. As a member of A Relaxing Moment, you can use the voice of your guide during your relaxation experience as an anchor for your attention to keep your mind clear.

4. The fourth element, which many researchers believe is the most important, is to temporaily achieve a passive, non-judgemental, state of mind. This passive attitude allows all the thoughts, images, and feelings that drift into awareness to pass right through consciousness without knocking us off our Center.

The Relaxation Response is a very pleasurable experience. Most people experience it as a sense of calm, refreshment, and well-being. Because the Relaxation Response is an inate response within us, we all have the capacity to experience it and it's benefits. And because it is an innate response, it is always available to us - whether in the morning when we first wake up, before dinner as a way to let go of the stress of the day, or during a coffee break at work.

The important thing is to make relaxation part of our weekly routine. Pick a time that works best for you, according to the unique demands of your schedule, and then stick with it! You will find yourself looking forward to your little mini-vacations, and you may soon find yourself wondering how you ever got by without them.