August is Relaxation Month
Relaxation is Critical For Your Health
Relaxation practices create better health by lowering your blood pressure, reducing your heart rate, quieting, and restoring your busy brain. Take a few minutes several times during your busy day to renew and refresh your SELF. Relaxation practices are essential for your mental, physical and spiritual health, as well as your well-being.
Set the alarm on your phone every 2-3 hours as a reminder to nourish and relax your mind, body, and soul.
4 Scientific Proven Simple Ways to Relax
- Breathe. Scientific research shows us that deep breathing has profound effects on your heart rate, blood pressure, and the production of relaxing chemicals into your body. Inhale to the count of four, exhale to the count of four or repeat this slowly, “Breathing in, I breathe in peace. Breathing out, I breathe out peace.”
- Music. Listen to your favorite relaxing music for a few minutes. Studies show that music has a relaxing effect on the brain, reducing your heart rate and blood pressure. Listening to relaxing music also helps your body produce relaxing chemicals into your body.
- Take a Mind Vacation. Close your eyes and imagine you are in the most relaxing place you know and that you love. Focus on your senses. How does it smell, taste, sound, and feel? We have lots of research showing that the mind believes what it imagines. Guided imagery reduces your heart rate and blood pressure while also producing relaxation chemicals into your body. Visit our Meditation Room for more ideas and free relaxation videos.
- Inspiration. Read a short inspirational saying slowly and absorb the healing words. There are great apps with inspiring words; for example, try our Mindful Living app in the Apple store or Google Play store.