Stress Relief - How Not to Get Worried Sick

"You are what you think. This statement and others like it can be found in the works of Shakespeare, Chekov, and Emerson, in the teachings of Lao-Tzu and Socrates, and even in the Bible. So, is there any current scientific proof or is this statement simply a wishful thought?

There is a great deal of evidence that shows that we really ARE what we think, in a genuine physiological fashion. The medical field of research is called Psychoneuroimmunology or PNI. It is the study of interactions between a persons perception of the world around them, their behavior, the way their brain functions, and their immune system. The field of PNI studies the measurable interaction between psychological and physiological processes. The psychological portion is the Psycho aspect, the central nervous system aspect is the Neuro aspect, and the body's defense against external infection and mutant cell division is the Immunology aspect. There is also an endocrine system portion of PNI involving the release of various hormones in coordination with the other three aspects.

UCLA has the leading research facility in the nation to explore the intricate relationships between how our thoughts directly affect the production of certain hormones that, in turn, causing identifiable reactions within our body. The overall concept is very simple. Positive thoughts lead to positive changes in the body while negative thinking results in negative changes. Basically, negative thinking can be viewed as placing stress on the body and its functions.

Studies have shown improvement or complete remission in various diseases from such things as laughter, positive imagery, and other similar therapies. Likewise, research demonstrates that individuals that focus on the negative aspects of their life tend to deteriorate more rapidly. Clearly, the body responds better to a positive mental message. Perhaps Norman Cousins, researcher at UCLA, said it best:

The human body experiences a powerful gravitational pull in the direction of hope. That is why the patient's hopes are the physician's secret weapon. They are the hidden ingredients in any prescription. The human body experiences a powerful gravitational pull in the direction of hope. That is why the patient's hopes are the physician's secret weapon. They are the hidden ingredients in any prescription.

How can you take advantage of this connection between your mind and your body? There are several methods and each one is simple to put into practice. being persistent is the biggest task. Developing the habit of positive thinking does require some practice but wouldnt you rather spend your time thinking about good things instead of focusing on the downside of life? Here are a few things that might help you get control of the dark side of your thoughts.

Nutrition is a good first step. If youre eating foods with antibiotics, pesticides, herbicides, and hormones in the food or on the food, then you are actually contributing to the imbalances and the negative thinking. You see, the channels are open both ways your mind affects your body and your body affects your mind. Take a look at your diet and see if you can eat more raw foods and less processed or pre-packaged items.

Stress places a drain on certain vitamins and minerals in your body. Deficiencies can lead to or contribute to a number of diseases. Take a high-quality multiple vitamin/mineral supplement to make certain that you are supplying your body the nutrients that it needs to repair the damage caused by stress and negative thoughts.

Exercise is another tool to good thinking. Its been said that every motion begins with a thought another indication of the connection between mind and body. Make an effort to move as much as you can; your attitude will reflect the difference that effort really makes. Exercise at any level has been shown to relieve tension and stress.

Meditation and other relaxation methods are key aids in clearing your mind of negative thoughts and alleviating stress in the body. deep-breathing techniques, such as those practiced in yoga, are helpful and can be done anywhere at any time. The inward focus of the mind on the act of breathing in a slow, controlled manner quiets the complex web of thoughts that constantly erupt in a persons mind. Calming that bubbling fountain of thoughts allows you to focus on your connection to the higher power that we are all a part of. Keeping in touch with that higher power cleans up the negative thinking as you establish a pattern of positive thoughts and actions.

The information in this article is a small portion of my 8-week online class called The Answers Right Under Your Nose. Find out more about this life-changing course at www.JerryRyanPhD.com under the Personal Coaching heading.

Jerry Ryan, Ph.D. is a natural health Coach who teaches individuals and group classes on the scientifically documented benefits of natural health techniques. He is also an internationally published author and has been a guest speaker at such places as NIKE World Headquarters. For more information, his website is http://www.JerryRyanPhD.com

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How to Meditate Like Goldilocks

If Goldilocks were to leaf through a few meditation books, she might find some approaches to be too hot, others too cold. But soon enough, we know she'd land on a system that feels "just right" to her. She always does.

meditation is Like Porridge

When you take your first taste of meditation, it is good to follow your inner guidance. too hot? too cold? Find an approach that feels "just right" as it offers you a bridge from your every day state of mind into the clarity, awakening, and healing you seek.

Scattered Mind

In our ordinary state of mind, we rapidly alternate our focus between what is wanted and what is not wanted. This creates static in our vibration. When you focus in such a way that increases the split in your energy, you feel worse. When you deliberately select a focus that brings you into alignment, you feel better.

The more you become like Goldilocks, the more you can clearly tell which technique feels too hot, which one's too cold, and which one is "just right" for you. The more you follow your inner guidance, the more easily and swiftly you can bring yourself into a deep and beneficial meditative state.

The Missing Ramp

Most people give up their meditation practice (or never even begin) for one reason. This reason takes many forms but there is really only one reason. It may feel like "I don't have the time." Or it may show up as "I don't really understand how to do it." It may even look like "I try but I fall asleep."

All these obstacles to meditation are the same at their root. They may look different, but they are all evidence of something missing. The thing that is missing is a ramp.

Your mind is functioning at one frequency and meditation asks it to function at a completely different frequency. When you sit down in your everyday mental pace and ask yourself to jump levels with no ramp, you may be asking the impossible of yourself.

But when you have a ramp, you can do it. When you have a simple way to reliably move from the rhythm of your everyday mind into the rhythm of meditation, you advance rapidly. You begin to reap the benefits of meditation that usually take years and years to achieve.

Aligned Mind

A physical ramp will get your car from one level to another, but what kind of ramp will elevate your mind? The ramp that brings you comfortably into meditation is built of inner alignment. And just like Goldilocks, who knows a good ramp when she sees one, you will know you have achieved a shift in your vibration when you have found your inner alignment. It feels "just right."

here is an exercise you can do right now to begin your inner alignment. Try this before you meditate and see if it changes the experience for you.

1 - Sit with your spine upright and close your eyes.

2 - Imagine a vertical beam of light running through your spine. It extends infinitely above your head. It also extends below you through the center of the earth and beyond.

3 - allow your muscles to relax and let this beam of light call your spine to a relaxed and powerfully upright posture.

4 - On each in breath, feel your breath begin at the base of your spine and let it rise through the beam of light to the top your head.

5 - On each out breath, feel the breath and the light expand outward to fill your whole body. Feel it illuminate and cleanse your physical cells as well as your energy body.

This simple process of beginning your alignment with the vertical axis offers many benefits:

It brings you into greater awareness of the now.
It promotes healing.
It heightens your sensory awareness so that you have more joy in your human experience.
It augments your insights and talents.
It increases your natural abilities by making you whole.

As you do this process, I recommend you approach it like Goldilocks. Find a way to do it that feels "just right."

For a complete system of inner alignment that leads you into deep meditation in record time, comfortably and easily, read Dr. Rebbie Straubing's book "Rooted in the Infinite: The Yoga of Alignment" You can download the introduction and first chapter at http://RootedintheInfinite.com

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You Can Overcome Anxiety

Anxiety is a natural emotion that strikes one and all at sometime or the other in life. I am no exception. But I am writing this article to assure you that you could also overcome anxiety just like I did. There was a time when I used to suddenly feel the following symptoms:

Sudden palpitations
Perspiration or profuse sweating
Dry mouth
Trembling of hands and feet
Tightness in the chest
Dizziness
Blurred vision

Do you recognize these symptoms? Of course! They are symptoms of sudden anxiety that creeps in uninvited at wrong times and wrong places. It takes hold of you and makes you feel incapacitated to anything. But that is all in the past, in my case.

I wanted to take control of my anxiety. So I started reading a lot about anxiety. I read about why we get anxious, common symptoms and treatments, etc. Symptoms are all too common but treatments vary for anxiety.

Do you know all your anxiety and other sicknesses start in the mind?

First of all you need to be aware that you have a problem of getting anxious easily for no good reason.

You feel nervous and sick when you stop thinking calmly and start imagining wildly! It is a fact. When you think you have a problem, irrespective of the reality, you start nurturing negative thoughts. Your mind is only too happy to feed on such thoughts and helps you picture unwanted scenarios. When your mind does this, your nerves do their part to react to such ideas or imaginations. Due to this mental drama, you start getting anxious about the whole situation. In 99 percent of cases this is how anxiety occurs.

I started to watch my mind - After repeated anxiety attacks and learning that I have to face it, I started paying more attention to myself. If I felt a bit uneasy about something I would just drink a glass of water and sit for a while. I would feel butterflies dancing in my stomach. But I would not move. instead I would just watch my mind to see what it is thinking. Many might just laugh at this admission. But, try it and you would find an amazing discovery about your fears and causes for your anxiety.

I learned a few positive affirmations to make my mind strong - Whenever you get negative thoughts, tell yourself that you would not entertain such thoughts. instead learn to think positively. Repeat positive affirmations and they do you a world of good.

While medications might give you temporary relief, your efforts at being calm would help you find the exact reasons and you could clearly see how you create your own anxiety and tension. Along with your medication, whatever you are taking now, it is also good to practice yoga or meditation. They helps you to stay calm and keep your nerves calm too. There are many books and online information available.

Act smart and help yourself beat back your anxiety. You control your thoughts by controlling your mind. You could definitely live a life free of anxiety attacks.

I love to read books and write about useful information to others. I have been a ghost writer for the past two years. I strongly feel that writing is a satisfying job and a healthy hobby.

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3 Quick and Easy Pre-Yoga Stretching Techniques

All muscles tend to tighten up when idle, particularly the long muscles in your legs, back, and the sides of your body between your hips and your armpits. sitting for a long time in the same position at a desk or bench will often stiffen neck or shoulder muscles. Such stiffness creates tension in the body and can even influence your state of mind. But the most common danger of stiff muscles is that sudden movement that may cause damage.The following are some popular stretchers:

Bend and Sway

With your feet apart and your hands on your hips, bend the upper body to the left; then bend back as far as you can go, then to the right, and then forward. bend to the left again and repeat. After several bends, reverse direction and do several more. You should feel the muscles stretching on both sides of your body. Clasping your hands behind your neck or above your head will increase the stretching benefit.

From the same starting position as above, sway, do not rotate, from one side to the other. Extending the arms high above the head will give you maximum benefit.

Wing Flaps

To loosen the shoulder muscles, stand with your elbows out and your fists together in front of you about neck high. Your forearms should be parallel to the floor. Slowly pull your fists apart, and bring your elbows back as far as they will go. Do several smooth repetitions. Raising or lowering the level of your arms will spread the stretch up and down your shoulders. Some other good stretchers include the bend, the groin stretch, the propeller, and the cobra.

Bend

Begin with your feet together and knees straight but relaxed. Bend slowly form the waist with your fingers pointing to your toes and your head bowed. When you have reached the farthest you can hold for 10 seconds. Then rise very slowly to a straight-up position. Repeat. If the muscles along the back of your legs are very tight, do not expect to touch your toes right away. Just make sure that those leg muscles get a good stretch, and you will enjoy daily improvements.

Variation 1: Bend slowly forward and clasp your hand hands behind your legs. Pull your body down slowly by bending your elbows out.

Variation 2: Clasp your hands behind your legs even lower than in variation 1. Pull your body down slowly.

For both variations, hold for 10 seconds.

Want to learn about hatha yoga and more? Visit http://heyayoga.com/blog/index.phpto learn about yoga and hatha yoga.

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