Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Week Two

“There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.” – Thich Nhat Hanh In last week’s post, “Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Week One,” we explored how the evidence-based treatment of MBSR is effective in making significant changes for the better in people’s lives.  Mindfulness is a practice that can be utilized to transform people’s lives…

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Top 10 Instant Relaxation Techniques – Part One

“Light be the earth upon you, lightly rest.” – Euripides There are moments in life when it feels like everything is hitting you all at once.  Perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed by worrisome thoughts, intense emotions, or general overstimulation from the world.  In stressful moments, it is important to feel confident in the knowledge that…

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6 Stress Prevention Strategies

“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.” – Marcus Aurelius It is inevitable that we all experience stress in some form or another.  When stress is experienced as motivating…

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Protect Your Heart with Stress Reduction

“The mind has great influence over the body, and maladies often have their origin there.” – Moliere Today’s HEALTHbeat newsletter from Harvard Medical School discusses the importance of reducing stress to your overall cardiovascular health.  An abundance of research suggests that many psychological factors affect your heart health.  Different types of stress can contribute to…

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5 Basic Tension & Relaxation Exercises

“There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden, or even your bathtub.” – Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Visualizations allow us to create mental scenes or images that promote a sense of general relaxation and well-being.  We all…

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Finding Deep Relaxation with Self-Hypnosis

“When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.” – La Rochefoucauld The word “hypnosis” is derived from the name of the Greek god of sleep, Hypnos.  Dr. James Braid went on to coin the word “hypnotism” in 1843.  The current commonly word “hypnosis” became an alternate word…

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What are the 4 Basic Sources of Stress?

“Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.” – Ovid Stress is an unavoidable byproduct of life.  When natural changes occur, we typically experience stress during the process of adaptation.  It is worthwhile to note that stress results from both positive and negative changes.  When we experience negative changes (e.g., experiencing some…

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