Life can be complex, confusing and downright overwhelming at times.
We can feel pushed and pulled in various directions with the demands of work, relationships, bringing up children and managing our homes.
It can seem easy to book an appointment to see the Doctor expecting a slip of paper with the hoped for ‘miracle’ cure.
With the pace of life in modern society it may seem easier to pop a pill than to embrace natural ways of combating these debilitating feelings.
The statistics are scary!
The UK has the seventh highest rate in the Western world for drugs like Prozac. Yet these very drugs which are meant to keep dark thoughts at bay have been linked to increased suicide rates.
There are, however, ways in which we can incorporate relaxation into our everyday lives, without too much time or effort.
Do you ever think about the way you breathe?
During times of stress we sometimes forget to breathe, or at the very least our breathing may become shallow which can increase stress levels.
Holding our breath is a natural reaction to stress!
Remembering to breathe deeply and being conscious of each breath can contribute greatly to a happier, more peaceful life.
In recent years the concept of mindfulness has found its way into modern workplaces and everyday life.
The essence of mindfulness is to focus on one thing in the moment.
This could be a simple activity such as washing dishes, walking, playing a musical instrument or even eating. it could also be a sensation, such as seeing, smelling, feeling or listening.
Mindfulness can be practiced wherever you are, for example, in a traffic queue, a hospital waiting room, waiting for an interview, dealing with family disputes, noisy children and in the workplace.
A natural way of focusing and making your body relax is to count as you breathe in and again as you breathe out. A general guide is to count to 7 inwards and 11 outwards. Counting will naturally make your body relax. If you are feeling rushed, just pause for a moment and take a deep breath, this very simple form of mindfulness will help you relax.
Concentrating on your breathing in the traffic queue, slowing down your eating by savoring every mouthful and focusing your attention on enjoying the textures, smells and tastes of your food will all help improve the quality of your life.
When it is time to sleep and those troubling thoughts are swirling around your head, relax in a dark, quiet environment, away from distracting technology and focus on your body from the tips of your toes, slowly working your way up to the top of your head.
Acknowledge your thoughts, then pop them into a box and concentrate solely on your breathing.
We arrive into this world breathing, it is our connection to life. To neglect our breathing is to neglect our personal well being and life in all its beauty.
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