Do you experience regular bouts of stress? While some people assume stress is harmless, it can negatively affect both your body and mind. According to the website StatisticsBrain, 77% of the general population experiences physical symptoms caused by stress. This may include increased blood pressure, sweating, insomnia, weakened immune system, fatigue, etc. Thankfully, you can relieve stress and anxiety by engaging in one or more of the following relaxation techniques.

Mantra Meditation

Mantra is a Transcendental Meditation technique that involves silently repeating a word or phrase in a quiet, distraction-free environment with your eyes closed. Your “mantra” can literally be anything, ranging from your own name to a motivational phrase like “just breathe.” Of course, it’s recommended that you choose a positive mantra for optimal results, as negatively focused mantras could have the opposite effect by increasing stress levels. Mantra meditation is believed to allow the individual’s attention to transition to a quieter style of functioning. Click here for some ancient mantra’s.

Guided Meditation

What in the world is guided meditation and how can it help to relieve stress and anxiety? Guided meditation is exactly what it sounds like: meditation that’s performed under the guidance and/or instructions of another individual. Many people want to meditate but don’t know how. Guided meditation allows newcomers to experience a true, genuine meditation practice under the expertise of an instructor.

Keep in mind, however, that you can still perform guided meditation at home. There are guided meditation DVDs, MP3s, smartphone apps and more.

On our site we share various meditations with you every month, some of which are guided. A couple links are listed below, as well as another at the end of this post.

Observe Your Mind

The next time you feel stressed, try becoming the observer of your own mind. To do this, close your eyes and place your attention towards the area between your eyebrows (known as the Third Eye). Rather than feeling your anxiety, sit back and observe it. Doing so will allow you to develop a greater understanding of the true cause of your stress, at which point you make changes in your life to eliminate it.

Relax Your Muscles

As we mentioned earlier, stress can bring on physical symptoms, such as muscle tension for instance. When you are stressed, your body will instinctively tense up. To relieve this physical tension, close your eyes and relax each and every muscle, starting from the top of your head and working your way to the bottom of your feet. As your muscles begin to revert back to their normal, relaxed state, you’ll feel a sense of calmness flowing through your body. See the meditation video below.

We also offer free and low-cost downloadable meditations and mantras on our sister site.

Above Photo Credit: Tarcio

 

 

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