Stress Relief

Also: Managing Stress, Stress Management Tools

When I first moved from the South East of England to Swanage, in Dorset on the south coast, I was quick to feel much more relaxed. Over the previous 3 years, stress levels had reduced as I had stopped commuting to London to work on our own business full time. I had spent the earlier years travelling up to 6 hours a day, stuffed in commuter trains with thousands of miserable, sour faced people.

South East England, though, is the richest part of the country with the fastest pace of life, whatever that, in reality, might be. It was still a great relief to arrive in Swanage, a holiday town and thus a stress relief port for many thousands in the summer. How wonderful to be there all year.

Having a bit more control over my time, I wanted to continue the stress healing process. I learnt of a yoga class for those who could not do the full exercises due to any physical restraint. This was ideal for me, as my spine had become almost rigid from top to bottom in my younger years, and my hip joints were limited in their movement.

Once I started the yoga lessons, I discovered the wonders of yoga breathing techniques. The depth of relaxation amazed me, and I have been much more aware of breathing ever since.

Breathing - Your Partner in Stress Relief

The importance of breathing is recognised across many cultures, which see breath as the connection with the soul. In Western societies, where stress is seen as a problem and has thus become one, breathing techniques are being used as a form of stress relief. People are turning to relaxation techniques, such as yoga and meditation, that aid stress relief, and require beneficial breathing techniques.

All of us may be considered an expert in breathing – after all, we are doing it every day! However, this is a wrong assumption and many people never see the hidden potential breathing incorporates. Often, the importance of breathing is found incidentally in the West. Many people think they need some form of stress relief, and try out the different techniques that are available. In so doing, they discover how breathing is an important aspect of those techniques, and to them, of stress relief.

The importance of breathing is obvious and we depend on it to sustain our lives. As human beings we have to eliminate the things that our body is no longer using, and breathing takes care of 70% of this process. Other than eliminating the air from your lungs, after it has been depleted of oxygen, breathing also takes out toxins from your body. You can also eliminate non-chemical items such as emotions or stress. By using the power of breathing to the full, you can create a better connection with your inner self. That is a good preparation to relieve stress factors in an efficient way.

By becoming more aware of your breathing, you will be able to reduce any outside negative elements. Try this:

Focus your attention on your breath, and direct your mind to think only about your breathing. The rhythmical sensation your breath produces will help your mind, and your body, relax and slow down. Thinking is responsible for most of the tensions and upsets we face, and thus of stress. This simple exercise takes thinking into a harmonious and peaceful location.

Many of our thoughts are negative in nature. We often use or think about words like “won’t”, “can’t”, “shouldn’t”. Their negative connotations reflect on the way we feel, increasing nervousness and stress. Your brain processes millions of thoughts on a daily basis, and focusing it on your breath gives it much-deserved relief. Temporarily lowering your mind’s activity gives you extra peace and helps relax both your brain and your body. Also, because the concentration on breathing has the attention of your mind, any negative thoughts are being repelled.

Try to see your breathing education similar to acquiring any new talent. In order to reach a goal you will need to improve certain skills. You can’t just be a successful singer – you have to become one! This can be done by singing exercises, practice and training, as well as improving your techniques. Improving your breathing works exactly the same way. Right now you are at a low level, as you didn’t do any additional exercises to improve your breathing. Your subconscious mind usually takes care of this process, leaving your conscious mind to deal with other things. However, this is the time to take things into your own hands, and consciously control your breathing for the duration of the exercises

At first, try to analyze yourself every time you inhale and exhale. Do this until your mind gets used to the rhythmic tone of breaths and let your brain preoccupy itself only with your breathing. It might be hard at first, as you will get distracted by sounds or movements around you. In time, however, you will manage to ignore outside interference and sustain a prolonged period of clear focus. Regularly practise your breathing, and you will soon begin to see some of the positive effects. You will better understand, and have control over, one of the vital elements that keep us alive. Breathing.

Managing Stress Reduction From Another World