Calming the busy mind

Firstly, remind yourself that you can meditate. Nobody on earth is completely incapable of doing so, and it is something which our minds and bodies actually want to do – we spend almost all day every day exhausting ourselves, and ignoring the fact that we crave some peace and detachment from our hectic lives. However, it is exactly these hectic lives and the busy spaces we inhabit, the stressful things which we have to do which cause the biggest problems whenever we wish to meditate. The fact that we spend almost all of every day juggling various thoughts, opinions, choices and tasks in our minds means that it is often very difficult indeed to really let go of such things, and we have become so accustomed to living in a state of high stress that our minds find it very difficult to release all this extra pressure and allow us to relax. Such things also cause a deep sense of attachment to the material world, something which really must be overcome should you want to achieve deep meditative relaxation and adopt a state of positive thinking.

Avoid distraction

One of the main reasons why we fail to meditate is due to the distractions which surround. Some of these distractions are obvious and easy to avoid – turning off your telephone and intercom greatly help – but other distractions are more subtle. Electronic frequencies in the air, difficult thoughts or worries, all these things can halt meditative practices and cause a lot of frustration. If you are struggling with these things, many experts would recommend investing in a decent pair of headphones and making use of meditative music. This music will wash over your body and mind, coax vivid visualizations from your unconscious and really help overcome any distractions. Just remember – you can meditate – maybe all you need to do is experiment a little more, alter some of your methods, and don’t give in to frustration!

About Jamila Gorman

Jarmila is a writer in the personal development niche with a strong – and ever-growing – desire to help people create their dream lives. She is a passionate student of the amazing abilities and potential of the human mind. From her lifelong love of athletics came an interest in finding out just what the words “limit” means; and how to get the mind past its whining to push on and do more. Years of ultra-cycling and an attitude of “bring it on, I can do this” have honed her ability to overcome self-imposed limitations in other areas of her life, a skill she now shares with a worldwide audience. Jarmila is a writer with a goal to inspire you to LIVE your life, on purpose, out loud and with a big smile on your face. You can find more of Jarmila’s articles on meditation at the Silva Method Life. When she is not writing, Jarmila is outside taking photographs, hiking the Colorado mountains or cycling to the far horizon. 

Even for a guy who runs a relaxation website, I still get stressed occasionally!

At the moment, I have to contend with aging/ailing parents, a stressful work situation and the weather’s rubbish as well!

On top of all that, I’m having physiotherapy for a bad lower back (I guess gravity is finally taking its toll!).

Anyway, my physio has given me some ‘pilates-type’ exercises for my back and I find them very useful. He also suggested trying a pilates class or even a yoga class.

Now… I’ve dabbled with yoga before, but never attended a class. Maybe it’s the area I live in, but there aren’t many guys joining the lycra-clad ladies down at the local gym!

I could have spearheaded a new male-driven yoga stampede… but I chickened out and looked for online yoga tuition!

Turns out there are dozens of yoga and pilates classes available and I’ve finally joined what I feel is the best all-round website: My Yoga Online.

Why?

Well, after checking out all the alternative sites, I liked the fact that this website combines yoga with pilates and also throws in healthy living and relaxation music into the mix (sorry, the links go to a couple of my own websites… hey, I have varied interests and talents!).

I feel like I’m getting the best of both worlds: yoga to help me relax and pilates to help soothe my poorly back!

The videos are extremely high quality and I’ve just joined a beginners yoga program which comes in 8 modules (I’ve decided to have the modules emailed to me every 3 days but I could have chosen each day or even each week).

There are dozens of articles available to read and a thriving community where folks exchange tips and training advice and there’s even a mechanism for asking the instructors questions.

I’ve only scraped the tip of the yoga/pilates iceberg, but I’m sure this site will help me de-stress and build some flexibility into my aging bones. If you’re in a similar position to me, I suggest you at least check it out (click on either of the images at the top/bottom of this article).

In the meantime, keep checking back and I’ll report on my progress.

Namaste!

Alan

It seems to have been accepted as a fact that stress is a real thing that comes from external sources. How often have you heard someone say “They’re putting me under a lot of stress at work” or “He always stresses me out when we meet each other”. 

What if I was to tell you that stress does not exist?

You might think I’m mad to say that in the face of so much evidence that stress is out there and exists but I’m being serious. 

Stress does not exist. Well, to be more accurate, it is not inflicted on you from an external source. The ‘stress’ you experience comes from inside you, inside your own mind. You imagine the stress and then allow yourself to experience it and then allow that experience to affect you physically and emotionally.

The proof that stress comes from within you can be seen in high intensity workplaces across the country. Think of stocks and shares traders as a real life example. In that kind of environment there are individuals who seen to revel in the intensity and pressure. They rise to the challenge and thrive. There can also be individuals who crumble. They feel overwhelmed, incapable of keeping up and stressed. Both individuals are doing the same job in the same place but one loves it and the other can’t handle the stress. 

The difference is not the job, it’s the individual and their perception of the job. The stress doesn’t come from the work, it comes from inside.

How can you reduce your experience of stress?

Changing your experience of stress can be as easy as ABCD. The first step is A which stands for Adversity. What is the adversity that you are facing? Write it down in a sentence using straight forward language. For example, “The adversity I am facing is that my boss is putting too much on my plate.”

B stands for belief. What is the belief you attach to the adversity? For example “I believe that the work situation is beyond what I can cope with.”

C stands for consequence. what is the consequence of your belief about the adversity? For example, “The consequence of my belief is that I am feeling stressed and and I’m not sleeping well.”

D stands for dispute. Dispute your belief. For example, “I’m not incapable of handling this because I have dealt with worse in the past.”

This technique can be great at getting a more accurate take on the situation that you are in and it can help you reduce the emotional of the situation which can lead to solutions being more easily identified.

A second technique that can help you beat stressful thoughts is to breathe properly. I know that you are probably thinking that you breathe already so how can you be getting it wrong?

Well the truth is that many people don’t breathe fully and deeply. People who are stressed are more likely to breathe shallow breaths from the tops of their lungs. This can lead to an increase in physical stress on the body which can contriblute to mental stress.

The process of breathing deeply is in itself relaxing. It oxygenates your blood which allows your brain to feel more focused and clear.

This technique has five steps. First is to sit somewhere comfortable where you won’t be disturbed and to close your eyes. Second, breathe in fully, fill your lungs to the top. Third is to breathe out fully. Fourth, on the breaths in imagine you are breathing in the word “calm”. Fifth, on the breaths out imagine that you are breathing out stresses, tensions and unwanted thoughts.

Practice these five steps for five minutes a day for two weeks and there is a great chance that you will be feeling better. This technique enables you to be more focused on the moment while you are in the moment. When in this frame of mind you are less able or inclined to think about the past or worry about the future.

By practising techniques like this you can help yourself to change those old thought patterns and shift into a new phase.

This article is written by Richard Hennessy from Focused Hypnosis the Sheffield hypnotherapy practice. Focused Hypnosis was established in 2008 and have helped hundreds of people to think, act and feel better about their lives.

I have a gardening site called Hard To Beet and it covers a range of topics centred around growing healthy vegetables, but it also looks at self sufficiency, vegetarianism and ways to live a more ‘green’ lifestyle.

I can thoroughly recommend vegetable gardening as a fantastic way to unwind after a stressful day at work and the rewards are tremendous (I’m self sufficient in vegetables throughout the Summer and Autumn).

If you’d like to discover a really easy, low-labour method of growing veggies, check out my Food4Wealth Review on the site. Whilst there, why not sign up for the free newsletter where I’ll share some great tips on living a more independent and healthy lifestyle.

See you there!

Alan

Yoga, a traditional Eastern practice over 5000 years ago, is a disciplined practice of controlled breathing, physical movement or postures, stretching, meditation and mental imagery. It is a popular fitness program in the West that helps bring together the mind, the body, and the spirit to reduce stress, manage anxiety and promote physical and mental well-being. With these combined benefits in one technique, a high payoff is involved.

If you are interested in learning this technique, here are 5 easy steps you can practice indoors to help you relax and refocus your energies.

1. Tadasana / Tadasana Samasthithi / Mountain Pose

a. On your bare feet, stand on a level and smooth surface. If you are a beginner, keep your feet 2 inches apart for a more stable and easier stance. But as you advance, keep your feet together and your heels in contact with the wall, which is the ideal pose.
b. Then stretch your arms at your side with your fingers together and pointing down and your palms facing your outer thighs. Stretch your neck up without tensing or straining the muscles.
c. Evenly, put your weight on your feet, toes and heels. Tighten your kneecaps to stretch the back of your knees. Keep your front thighs in and your buttocks tightened. Draw in your lower abdomen muscles and lift your chest up.
d. With your head erect, practice deep, even breaths focusing on these inhales and exhales. Keep this pose for as long as 30 to 60 seconds.

2. Tadasana Urdhva Hastasana / Upward Salute

a. Similar to Tadasana pose, stand on a level, smooth surface with your bare feet together and your arms on your side. As you exhale, bring these arms to shoulder level in front of you. Remember to keep your palms open and facing each other.
b. From shoulder level, bring your arms above your head, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the floor. While extending the arms, palms, and fingers upward, push both shoulder blades into your body.
c. Stretching both arms further up, feel the stretch of your muscles on the length of your body.

3. Uttanasana / Standing Forward Bend

a. From Tadasana, inhale and lift your arms over your head. As you exhale, lean your body forward from the hip joints.
b. With your knees straight, bring your palms and fingertips to the floor beside your feet while you push your heels tightly into the floor and raise your tail bone towards the ceiling. Then take your hands behind your legs and wrap them together. Keep this pose for 7 to 8 breaths.
c. From behind you, bring your hands in front and slowly push your torso upwards. Keep your head in a hanging position until your body is completely upright. Repeat the Uttanasana procedure 4 or 5 times.

4. Prasarita Padottanasana / Wide-Legged Forward Bend

a. Begin in a Tadasana pose with your hands on your hips. As you exhale, spread your feet 4 feet apart depending on your height and capability. Make sure your legs are parallel with each other, your toes pointing forward, and your back straight.
b. Then exhale and bend your torso forward and down to the floor. Take your hands off your hips and lower your palms flat on the floor with your fingers spread out.
c. Slowly place the crown of your head on the floor and between your palms. Pull your abdomen in and groin back. Remain in this pose for a minute.

5. Sukhasana / Easy Pose

a. To end your yoga practice, spend a full minute to control your breathing. To do this, sit in a seated position on a firm, stable ground or platform with your legs crossed, more like sitting on a Buddha-style position.
b. As you inhale, straighten your back and relax your shoulders. And as you exhale, slowly place your hands above your knees with your palms facing up. Pause.
c. Then inhale once more, but deeply this time. Take in air at a slow count of four and hold this breath for another four counts. Then slowly release this breath at a slow count of eight.

Yoga has been proven by many of its practitioners to effectively control anxiety and stress. This technique harmonizes the nervous system and the body making relaxation possible. Because of these benefits plus its being an indoor-type of exercise, yoga is a great alternative to jogging on a snowy or rainy day.

Ryan Rivera credits his recovery from anxiety to alternative and natural methods of treatment. He talks more about these at his website, www.calmclinic.com.

Here’s a quick roundup of the latest news and treatment for those suffering from panic attacks:

Ways to Block Panic Attacks & Stop Anxiety, Depression & Stress …

Ways to Block Panic Attacks & Stop Anxiety, Depression & Stress – Panic ?r anxiety attacks ?r? ?n unpredictable foe. Th?? ??n suddenly emerge fr?m out ?f th? blue t? bring ??m? truly paralyzing effects.

How to Prevent Panic disorder in Social Settings | Goeasttimor.com

How to Prevent Panic disorder in Social Settings. In the event you experience a higher degree of anxiety and discomfort in social settings, you could be at risk for making a panic attacks. Many individuals who experience anxiety in social …

The Yeshiva World Exercise & Your Mental Health (Part IV) « » Frum …

Panic Disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurring severe panic attacks. It may also include significant behavioral changes lasting at least a month, and ongoing worry about the implications or concern about …

Here’s a video giving some great tips on how to deal with this condition:

Anxiety Disorder | How to Stop Panic Attacks

TheDetailsForYou.com — How to Stop Anxiety disorder and Panic Attacks. Panic attacks can come out anytime, or be brought on by fear or stress. You can’t guess when they will be happened. Panic attacks could be disguised as asthma attacks, temper tantrums outbursts of negativity and other negative behaviors.

If you’re a sufferer of panic attacks (in whatever situation), I hope you found some of the information in this post useful.

If YOU have any personal tips for our visitors, leave a comment below and share your tips with everybody.

Alan

Yan Muckle who runs the program is turning 44.

So, for 4 days he’s offering 44% off, so it costs only $44.

That’s a hell of a good deal for the Premium version of the program.

The sale will end on Wednesday at 11:59 pm.

He won’t be doing this very often, so now might be a good time to invest if you’re struggling with insomnia or other sleep-related disorders.

Here’s the link to get the discount: Sleeptracks

Alan

Wave insomnia goodbye!

I’m super charged and extraordinarily thrilled at this time to introduce Brian G. Johnson’s 300 Internet Marketers which has just been released and in which I am partaking.

Who is Brian G. Johnson?

Unless you are a newcomer to the Internet world, you would have somehow and by some means come across Brian G. Johnson’s name.  After all, Brian is a highly successful Internet, affiliate and niche marketer who’s been around long enough to publish countless videos, to write a whole slew of articles, to launch many hundreds of websites and to developed best selling IM products such as Revenue Domains Exposed, SEOPress Formula, Commission Ritual, Auto Content Cash and Halloween Super Affiliate.

Through his products and under his tutelage, Brian has coached, guided and mentored thousands of students with a rather large percentage of them reaching and surpassing their own personal online goals.  As a matter of fact, the Warrior Forum is filled with confirming testimonials that speak volumes about Brian’s powerful methods and his skillful teaching techniques.

Brian has gained a clear understanding of the nature of the vast Internet marketing arena, he has experienced its many aspects and has then found the precise strategies in order to build his financial empire ($500K in 2010) which he is passionate about sharing with others.  And so, Brian provides students only with those powerful techniques and most effective methods which have proven to truly work on his own businesses and therefore will also work on theirs.

What is 300 Internet Marketers?

Being launched on April 29, 2011, 300 Internet Marketers is Brian’s newest IM product on which he has been working for the past six months.  It is an intensive coaching program that will make a huge difference in the financial lives of 300 lucky members in 2011 and far beyond.

Why 300?  Because Brian is limiting membership to just 300!

Just like with all his other products where Brian over-delivers with step by step tutorial videos, easy to follow PDF documentation and close mentoring accessibility, 300 Internet Marketers has all that a much more.

However, it is also the most unique of all of Brian’s programs and, as a matter of fact, it is also different from anything else that is found on the Internet for the following reasons:

•    Running between April 2011 and on through August 2011, 300 Internet Marketers is a 5-month mentoring program.  Nothing of that equal exists online today.
•    Taking students to much higher levels, 300 Internet Marketers will teach how to build mega online businesses that have the potential to generate 6 figure incomes.
•    With 300 Internet Marketers as a tool, Brian will instruct members how to become high level super affiliates, how to build mammoth mailing lists as well as how to create and then sell their own products and/or services.

In short, Brian G. Johnson’s 300 Internet Marketers will transform 300 members to online Spartan heroes who will triumph over their competitors in any niche and across any marketplace.

Learn more about the 300 Internet Marketers coaching program with the link below:

300 Internet Marketers

Alan

It’s a difficult world we live in and we all get stressed every so often. This can be harmful on your health if it is allowed to build up. Stress relief balls have been used for centuries to help people cope with the stress of everyday living.

These balls are also known as Chinese exercise balls.health balls or Baoding balls. In China they are often called ‘Miracle Balls.’ In fact, they’ve been around since the Ming Dynasty – quite a while! Chinese people believe that they bring all kinds of therapeutic relief, especially in the area of relaxation and stress relief.

Usually, these balls are about the size of golf balls, but you can get them in various sizes to suit your hand size. It’s best to start with a small set of balls and work up to larger ones. Commonly, the balls range from about 1.25 to 2 inches in diameter.

They are constructed out of colored metal and always come in pairs. The colors are often in traditional colors. The Chinese Stress Balls also make a kind of jingling noise when you move them around in your hand. The idea is to rotate the balls in your palm – clockwise and then anti-clockwise.

The sounds emitted from the balls are soothing and so are useful for deep meditation.

You’re probably wondering how Chinese Balls can alleviate your stress symptoms! In fact, they work in a very simple way. The movement of the balls stimulates acupuncture points in your hand and this in turn affects the various organs of the body (in a positive way). This then seems to stimulate the flow of energy throughout the body and is beneficial when you are feeling particularly stressed

If you are feeling worried or tired, Chinese Stress Balls can also help by lowering your blood pressure. They can even help with arthritis! Emotional stress also seems to be released when handling the balls. Practitioners often use visualization to enhance the effect of Chinese Stess Balls The idea is to imagine the stress moving from the hands and body into the balls. With practice, this becomes even more effective and stress relief becomes a thing of the past.

Using these balls is just one way to alleviate stress. However, they can be used in other ways and many people have their own tips and tricks for greater effect. It’s certainly worth giving it a shot if you are under pressure and feeling stressed.

Stress is, unfortunately, widespread in society and with family and work pressures, this is set to rise.

We’ve gathered together some of the best stress relief and relaxation products together for you to examine. The systems and tools can all be bought online and can help to bring relief from the pressures of modern living. Have a look and see what you think:

• Effective Safe and Easy Stress Relief
• Conquer Stress, Depression & Anxiety
• Yoga Awakening Meditation Collection
• Beating Stress
• Meditation for Busy people
• The Ultimate Relaxation Program
  
• Yoga and Meditation
• The Handbook of Guided Relaxation
• The 30 Day Stress Away with Charles Linden
• Overcome Anxiety, Stress, Worry & Tension

Have a browse through them all and let me know what you think.

Whatever method of stress relief you choose, remember life is for living. Try to live in the ‘now’ rather than thinking about the future all the time. Look around you and take notice of the little things.

Namaste!