Relaxation
Strengthening Our Bodies With A Little Quiet Time
Our body is designed to protect itself. One of the most interesting ways this is achieved is to the “fight or flight response”, which comes to our rescue when we are perceived to be in danger. The body responds by preparing us to “fight or run”; heart rate speeds up, breathing becomes shallow, muscles tense and the systems that aren’t immediately required are shut down, such as the digestive system and the immune system. The bodies ability to activate this system is truly miraculous and helpful however there is one major problem. What happens when it is being activated on a constant basis due to stress?
When our bodies are in a constant state of reacting to the stresses we encounter on a daily basis our body is unable to rest and repair itself. When we are at rest or relaxation our bodies are able to concentrate on healing and returning to a natural state of equilibrium. During relaxation our heart rate slows, our breathing becomes deeper and slowed, the immune system kicks back into action, digestion begins and tension leaves our muscles. One of the first things that we do as individuals immediately after a stressful encounter is sit down and breath a big sigh of relief.
We can assist of bodies by meditating, because the proven benefits are endless. Before you start moaning; this doesn’t mean that you have to sit in a corner with your legs crossed for hours at a time. Meditation can be as simple as taking ten or fifteen minutes to sit quietly, whether it is under a tree or locked in the bathroom. The goal is to give your body and mind some time to rest and relax, this can be achieved by taking a few minutes each day and simply focusing on your breathing.
With the regular practice of meditation your body is able to maintain the benefits it provides throughout the day not just during the actual practice session. The result will be a lowered heart rate, deeper more cleansing breathes, immune functions are enhanced, blood pressure normalizes, oxygen is used more efficiently, and your mind becomes sharper. Meditation has also been proven to elevate mood, and is now being used to treat everything from depression to addictions. One of the most exciting facts about meditation is the effects can be felt immediately after one session.
The biggest excuse for not incorporating meditation into a daily routine is lack of time. If you make a commitment to spending 10 minutes meditating before you go to bed each night you will find that not only will you fall asleep faster but you will sleep deeper and feel much more energized in the morning. It does take practice to relax and empty our minds but the effort is well worth the benefits both short term and life long. None of us can avoid stress, it is part of the human experience but we can counteract it’s damaging effects with a little effort and commitment.
