Utilizing the Power of Your Breath to Secure Deep Relaxation

Amazingly easy entry into the Relaxation Response is available through paying attention to the breath -- the foundation of most meditative practices.

Simply watching the flow of air into your nostrils, down into your chest, then the outflow of the warmed air -- has a restful and quieting effect, which allows your body to move into the Relaxation Response.

Breathing is unique in that it is a bodily function that happens routinely, whether we are focusing on it or not -- and also is controllable through conscious intention. We can elect to breathe fully, we can hold our breath, we can breathe quickly or slowly.

This unique attribute explains the effectiveness of breathing in achieving the Relaxation Response. By consciously paying attention to the breath, we are impacting the parasympathetic nervous system of the body, which controls other reflexive responses such as heart rate and blood pressure.

Thus the small act of watching your breath as you breathe slowly and deeply begins to lower your heart rate and stabilize your blood pressure. When you keep on doing this, your endocrine system begins to lower the quantity of stress hormones it is releasing. Gradually your bodily responses are slowed as the Relaxation Response spreads throughout your body.

Your breath is a wonderful and ever-present resource to guide you to more profound states of relaxation. Notice the feeling of breathing, being aware of the flow of air moving in and out of your body. Be aware -- and hesitate for just a moment -- at the "still point" after you breathe out, before you begin to draw in the next slow, gentle breath.

You may choose to try taking "relaxation breaks" throughout your day, relaxing for a moment or two as you only pay attention to your breath. These can be delicious, peaceful moments!

Sandi Anders, M.Div., R.Y.T. http://www.SandiAnders.com is a yoga and meditation teacher and life coach in Nashville, TN. Her relaxation CD The Alchemy of Peace and Love http://www.imagery4relaxation.com combines a gentle and effective relaxation meditation with a powerful guided imagery experience to boost self-esteem and self-acceptance. She recommends Stress Management and Relaxation resources at http://www.Books4SelfHelp.com/stress-management.htm

How To Use Binaural Beats To Improve Your Traditional Meditation Practice
How would you like to take your meditation practice to a whole new level? Many long-time meditators have heard of using binaural beats to entrain the brain into a state of deep relaxation, similar to meditation. But did you know that you can use it...

Practicing Staying Present to the Now
Transformational Counseling is about assisting others to transform their life. Transformational Counseling is a process of assisting others to learn how to let go of the past and live fully in the present. To live fully in the present is to become ...

Meditation for Those Who Do Not Want to Meditate
I have met many people who do not want to meditate; yet they seek peace of mind. They just do not want to concentrate here or focus there. Their main point of contention is that they just do not have the power of concentration. I simply ask them, if ...

Forms Of Meditation
Meditation is not as complicated as it might seem, all it takes is the will to get started and once you are getting even the slightest benefits you will want to continue. Many forms of meditation are available to learn, some of which have been aroun...

Beginner Buddhist Meditation
This method of meditation relies on the control of your breathing. Make yourself comfortable and follow these easy steps, each step can be held for as long as you see fit. (This method is my own personal method adapted from the Buddhist Breath Medita...

Meditation for Urban People
Urban community is business and industrial society that always under pressure with never ending business target. Other hands, unhealthy life style often make endurance more lower, lower and lower physically and mentally. For solve this problem some ...

Tibetan Telemarketers Take One Deep Breath Between Each Call
Id love to construct a call center at the top of the world, in Tibet.Its breathtakingly beautiful, for one thing.But if I could staff the place with monks, how cool would that be?Do you think theyd be rattled by rejection? Put off by pettiness? Custo...

Learning to Breathe
How Should I Breathe?In order to provide your body with the proper oxygen supply and to help it stay well rested, you need to practice breathing with your diaphragm. This special form of breathing is referred to as Pranayama in the yoga world, with ...

Meditation: A Path To Inner Peace
Throughout history, meditation has been an integral part of many cultures. Records indicate that meditation was practiced in ancient Greece and India more than 5,000 years ago. In the Buddhist religion, meditation is an important part of their spir...

Finding the Rhythm in Your Breath
Focusing on your breath can be a truly empowering experience. You may have a tendency to discount the power of noticing and using the rhythm of your breath because your breath is so much a part of you. It might just seem too simple.Ordinarily, of cou...

This entry was posted on Friday, June 6th, 2008 at 2:40 am and is filed under Meditation Center . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.