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A Million and One Ways To Relax

© T. Darlene Cheek

I am very fortunate in that my entire job and lifestyle revolve around relaxation; however, I know that many people live with stress every single day of their lives, even to the point of actually forgetting what being relaxed feels like! If you train your mind and body correctly, you can relax every single muscle and fiber by simply saying the word "relax."

My first experience with hypnosis was actually in a bio-feedback class. I had injured my back, was so stressed I couldn't relax my muscles, and nothing eased the pain. I stayed like this for so long that I couldn't remember what it felt like to be relaxed. With bio-feedback, you simply start with your toes and work all the way up to your head saying "My (toes) are heavy and relaxed" 3 times... with each part of your body... and while you are saying the words, focus on relaxing that muscle/body part... feel it happening. I usually fell asleep at my knees.

Learning self-hypnosis was an extension of what I learned in bio-feedback class. One of the differences with self-hypnosis is that you add visualization. Starting with the top of your head, simply go through the procedure of relaxing each muscle, but also picture yourself in a beautiful place... you can also add positive suggestions that will make your body relax at a keyword, for example. I've written a full script that you can use and even put on tape if you'd like.

Along the lines of self-hypnosis and bio-feedback, I also like to spend a few minutes during the day in meditation. To me, meditation is a very personal thing. No one can tell you how to do it or what it should be like for you individually. One of the most important things for meditation though, is breathing correctly and learning to completely clear your mind. The clearing of the mind is usually accomplished with "mantras"... oohhmm, for example.

There are also more in depth forms of meditation that also include physical movements, such as yoga and tai chi... as well as physical forms where you don't have to do anything but lie down, such as Reiki and massage therapy. If you have never experienced a Reiki session or a massage, you are missing out on one of the most wonderful things in life. Both are very cleansing to the mind and body, actually detoxifying, and they both feel simply fantastic.