Stress Relief Tools

Here’s a stress relief tool you can start using right away. Whether you realize it or not, the first noticeable way your body experiences stress is in your breathing. Let’s relieve the tensions you’re carrying by breathing together.

Here’s how you begin:
BREATHE OUT. Right now. Breathe out all your breath as though you are blowing out a small candle, until there is no breath remaining. 

Doing this simple act whenever you are aware of physical or mental tension can change your response to stress MORE than almost any other choice you can make! I promise that if you do this simple exercise for three weeks, it will change your physical and emotional reactions to stress: breathe out every time you’re aware of tension, stress, anger, or fear. As you continue breathing out, you change your body’s reactions to stress—FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!

It’s a profoundly simple choice. Over a three-week period, release the tension in your body by breathing out immediately whenever you are stressed or tense. It will lower your blood pressure and improve your overall health, both physical and mental. It will also have a profound effect on your quality of life and relationships; instead of shutting down when you feel stress, you will react from a position of clarity and calmness.

Let’s take the breath one step further.

1. When you breathe in your next breath, breathe it down into the cushion you are sitting on. 
2. As you breathe in, push your abdomen out. 
3. As you breathe out, pull your abdomen in.
4. Do this for three breaths. Notice how quiet you feel inside.

This abdominal breathing actually slows your body down—immediately! As you’re breathing, allow your chest and shoulders to remain still. Let your abdomen do the breathing. Breathing with your chest and shoulders invites a stress response!

These directions are simple and to the point, and they really work.
By the way, in case you learned once upon a time to breathe in as a way to reduce stress, forget it. When you’re stressed and you try to force a breath into an already tense body, you create an even higher physical tension in your body. ALWAYS begin by breathing out before taking in a breath.

Click here for a PRINTABLE VERSION of this breathing exercise.

How will I benefit right now if I lower my stress level? 
*Your body will feel better
*You will have more energy
*You will sleep better
*You will feel less anxiety
*You will feel less pressured
*You will be less likely to feel irritable or have angry outbursts
*Your skin will have a healthy glow (When you’re chronically stressed, the tiny blood vessels in your skin constrict. When you relax, your blood vessels open, more blood gets through, and you can actually see the positive effects in your face.)
*You will make better decisions
*You may feel that time expands

How will I benefit for the rest of my life if I commit to keeping my stress level low?
Begin by doing the breathing described above. It will change your life. The short-term positive results you experience will become long-term changes—BECAUSE THEY FEEL SO GOOD, not only to you, but to your body. Continue to release stress reactions over time, and life-altering transformation will be the natural process. You’ll feel the difference in your mind, body and spirit.

Here is what you will start to feel:
*A passion for life                                         
*Creative
*Connected with people in your life             
*Hope
*Calm                                                             
*Strong and vital
*Connected with God or a Higher Force      
*Connected with nature
*Joy                                                                
*Enthusiastic and motivated
*Improved memory                                       
*Awe about things that you now take for granted
*Clear-minded                                                            *Optimistic
*Increased problem-solving ability                                                                                        

Are you ready to let go of the stress in your life,
to feel vital and more alive, to regain your creativity
and sense of optimism about life?