Three Powerful Techniques to Relieve Stress!
Coping with stress can be a full time job, and since many of us are already working full time, we are going to make relaxation and peace of mind easily attainable. By using guided visualization, you can easily reduce stress, among many other methods. Following are a few of the most efficient methods available.
Casting Stone Technique: With the casting stone technique, you find a peaceful spot by some water, i.e. a lake or a river. Picking up a stone, you visually (using your imagination) send out all of your stress and negative energy into the stone via a stream of purple light. Visualize this stream of light coming from your chest, working down your arms, and into the stone.
Next, saying “I release my stress now,” throw the stone into the water and watch your stress drown. This works the same way as writing a letter and burning it, giving you a physical and interactive way to releive stress by averting your attention onto relieving it, not just ruminating on the fact that you are so flustered.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Another way of Coping with stress is called ‘Progressive Muscular Relaxation’, or PMR. PMR directly effects you state of mind and body, causing deep relaxation, slower and better paced breathing, increasing oxygen consumption, as well as relieving the tension in your muscles which can lead to cramps and mental fatigue.
To practise Progressive Muscular Relaxation, you will need at least fifteen minutes to yourself undisturbed, so turn the phones off, make sure you are not expecting company, and the kids are safely asleep. You may light candles or incense to set the right mood, and may even want to consider instrumental music, at a low level, just enough to be heard, but only barely.
You will need to sit comfortably, making sure you are not sitting ackward but also that you will not fall asleep. Close your eyes, and breathe slowly and deeply, to a rythm of your choice. Start counting each breath, whispering the number of each as you exhale. Draw it out, take your time, there is no need to rush.
Next, while keeping your attention on counting your controlled rythmic breathing, tense and relax your muscles beginning in your feet, in sync with your breathing. Tense on inhalations, relax on exhalations. Slowly work your way up your body.
Doing this for about twenty minutes a day, as well as weekly use of guided visualization and other stress management techniques, you will begin to feel clear minded, and have a sense of life you have not felt in a long time. You can find C.D.’s to use with your guided visualizations that lead you along a relaxing journey through fields, beaches, and other calming scenery at almsot any music or books store, and they may even be purchased online.
Remember not to rush any of these techniques, as this will dampen the effect and only cause remaining stress to build up as new issues are added on.