More and more, we are hearing that stress reduction is a big part of healthcare. We are learning that it isn’t just about what you eat and how much you move your body. It’s also about your stress levels.

And honestly, stress reduction probably isn’t the right word. It’s hard to reduce stress. Unless you just stop doing everything that could possibly aggravate you. Ashram on a mountain, anyone?

Management is probably a better word than reduction. It’s about how you cope with stress, not about avoiding it entirely.

And one way to cope with stress is a relaxation practice.

Maybe you’re familiar with that part at the end of Yoga class where we lay down and rest? That quiet time where you get to just let go and be. That’s a relaxation practice.

Ahhhh.

And it doesn’t have to be part of a yoga class. You can do it on your own. Just a few minutes a day on a regular basis can help you get better at dealing with your life. And even better, start living it.

When I teach guided relaxation, I slowly walk you through a practice of awareness. We travel through the body, the breath and the mind and move toward stillness.

Some folks worry, because they can’t get their minds to stop thinking. Racing from thing to thing, or fluttering from lofty idea to the next.  Unicorns and fairies, or grocery and to-do lists.

That’s okay!

It’s normal for the mind to wander.

Thinking is what the Mind is built to do! When we get lost in thought, we just notice, and return to the practice of Relaxation. And it IS a practice. It takes regular practice to see the benefits…just like exercise, eating well, yoga and massages. You can’t toss out a Michael Jackson dance routine on the first go round. You practice a lot; all the while remembering that you’re DANCING.

Relaxation is like that. Soothing your mind, easing the stillness within…even if you only catch a glimpse of it. You’ll come out of the practice feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Or you’ll drift off. I recommend a relaxation practice for folks who have a tough time getting to sleep. It helps bring the mind to a settled place, and make the transition to sleep. For some folks, it is more restful than sleep.

But it ain’t just about sleep.

A relaxation practice can help with chronic pain. Folks with Fibromyalgia, Headaches, Arthritis (or any -itis) and other conditions can benefit from this practice. I have chronic pain in my legs, and my practice of relaxation helps me cope; along with yoga, physical therapy and massage.

Heart disease is another issue we are facing.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol and other conditions affecting the heart and circulation. And relaxation is proven to reduce blood pressure. That’s part of what we call the relaxation response. If you’re serious about improving your health, it’s an important practice to maintain!

If you have any issues with heart disease, stress, sleep, or pain, get going with guided relaxation. Like, asap.  Get to a yoga class, look up a relaxation practice online, or check out the shop.

Take 20 minutes every day just for you, and reap the benefits of guided relaxation. No unpleasant side effects, no hefty expenses.

You won’t be sorry.