How can I Relax and get rid of stress?
Is it Guided Relaxation or Guided Meditation?
When
I wrote Simply, One Breath At a Time, I used relaxation as this is what I was used to and I felt the book was
more about. For me, meditation is more a quiet time which I do at the end of the
relaxation during a period of silence.
Meditation
is the most popular word so I thought
I’d provide a brief and simple explanation of each as I know and experience them for a beginning practice.
Relaxation isn't really watching TV, reading a book, or just sitting. These things may take us away from our work,
or give us something to do, or not do, but it often isn't real relaxation. Some
of these down times can create even more stress, worry, and anxiety.
Guided
Relaxation is a process of consciously learning to relax different areas of the
body and quieting the mind which may seem difficult at first. A guided
relaxation communicates with your mind, body, and breath using techniques such
as positive soothing words, stories, visualizations, breath awareness and
exercises, body scanning etc.
While
following along you are invited and encouraged to breathe, soften, become calm
and quiet, to let go of tension and stress, and to bring yourself to a
nurturing place where you feel deep relaxation and where your body responds to
the difference. It is a time to remove
obstacles, open the body, and clear the mind to move into the present moment.
Meditation is simple but not easy and it takes
time and practice. You can do it
anywhere you feel comfortable and it may start with you consciously relaxing
your body but the main purpose is training the mind to be still, present, and
aware. This is a personal time to let
things pass through your mind by only observing what arises and not reaching
for it.
As
you become aware of self talk, thoughts, or the things you may be clinging to
or resisting, you let it go and then
come back to the silence of the moment. Meditators may use various techniques
to focus on for this such as affirmations, wellness messages, visualizations,
colors, breathing, or mantras.
Both
relaxation and meditation provides us with a few moments to be calm, present,
allow our bodies to move toward balance, and to find comfort with who we
are. They offer us a time to be at peace
and they help us to learn more about ourselves.
They also offer us tools and ways to manage and release stress which
significantly improves all aspects of our daily lives and health management.
As
we commit to our practice it deepens and becomes a place where we can learn
about acceptance, kindness, and compassion for ourselves and others, and it can
also be a place that reveals our own true beauty, strengths, and
potential.
Whatever you choose, it starts with a breath
and a few minutes –
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