Relaxation Health
How can relaxation health enhance your detox?
Body Strain
It is true that our bodies can undergo tremendous strain from our environment, processed foods and the daily stress of life. Even though this strain and daily stress is very often the price for pursuing a successful modern life, it is still important to include rest and relaxation into your detox program.
Relaxation Techniques
If you couple a healthy detox with relaxation techniques (click here for an ideal program) such as music, aromatherapy, bathing, hot tub, yoga, stretching, etc, then not only will your body be detoxified of preservatives but also of all the emotional stress that you are inundated with on a daily basis. This can lead to whole body health and can drastically improve your productivity in all different parts of you life.
Stresses Of Life
Get away from the day to day stresses of life. Take a short vacation, visit a mountain retreat, or go to the country. For something nearer to the house, get pampered at a day spa. This relaxation is “me time”.
Breathing Program
Implement a good breathing program. Yoga is the science of breath. This is one recommended breathing program you should begin"Practicing regular, mindful breathing can be calming and energizing and can even help with stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive disorders." Andrew Weil, M.D.
Breathing Techniques
Here are 3 breathing exercises you can implement immediately (found at http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00521/three-breathing-exercises.html).Exercise 1:
The Stimulating Breath is adapted from a yogic breathing technique. Its aim is to raise vital energy and increase alertness.
* Inhale and exhale rapidly through your nose, keeping your mouth closed but relaxed. Your breaths in and out should be
equal in duration, but as short as possible. This is a noisy breathing exercise.
* Try for three in-and-out breath cycles per second. This produces a quick movement of the diaphragm, suggesting a bellows.
Breathe normally after each cycle.
* Do not do for more than 15 seconds on your first try. Each time you practice the Stimulating Breath, you can increase your
time by five seconds or so, until you reach a full minute.
If done properly, you may feel invigorated, comparable to the heightened awareness you feel after a good workout. You should feel the effort at the back of the neck, the diaphragm, the chest and the abdomen. Try this breathing exercise the next time you need an energy boost and feel yourself reaching for a cup of coffee.
Exercise 2:
This exercise is utterly simple, takes almost no time, requires no equipment and can be done anywhere. Although you can do the exercise in any position, sit with your back straight while learning the exercise. Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue just behind your upper front teeth, and keep it there through the entire exercise. You will be exhaling through your mouth around your tongue; try pursing your lips slightly if this seems awkward.
* Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound.
* Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four.
* Hold your breath for a count of seven.
* Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight.
* This is one breath. Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three more times for a total of four breaths.
Note that you always inhale quietly through your nose and exhale audibly through your mouth. The tip of your tongue stays in position the whole time. Exhalation takes twice as long as inhalation. The absolute time you spend on each phase is not important; the ratio of 4:7:8 (4 breaths, hold breath for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds) is important. If you have trouble holding your breath, speed the exercise up but keep to the ratio of 4:7:8 for the three phases. With practice you can slow it all down and get used to inhaling and exhaling more and more deeply.
Natural Tranquilizer
This exercise is a natural tranquilizer for the nervous system. Unlike tranquilizing drugs, which are often effective when you first take them but then lose their power over time, this exercise is subtle when you first try it but gains in power with repetition and practice. Do it at least twice a day. You cannot do it too frequently. Do not do more than four breaths at one time for the first month of practice. Later, if you wish, you can extend it to eight breaths. If you feel a little lightheaded when you first breathe this way, do not be concerned; it will pass.
Insomnia Help
Once you develop this technique by practicing it every day, it will be a very useful tool that you will always have with you. Use it whenever anything upsetting happens - before you react. Use it whenever you are aware of internal tension. Use it to help you fall asleep. This exercise cannot be recommended too highly. Everyone can benefit from it.Exercise 3:
If you want to get a feel for this challenging work, try your hand at breath counting, a deceptively simple technique much used in Zen practice.
Sit in a comfortable position with the spine straight and head inclined slightly forward. Gently close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Then let the breath come naturally without trying to influence it. Ideally it will be quiet and slow, but depth and rhythm may vary.
* To begin the exercise, count "one" to yourself as you exhale.
* The next time you exhale, count "two," and so on up to "five."
* Then begin a new cycle, counting "one" on the next exhalation.
Never count higher than "five," and count only when you exhale. You will know your attention has wandered when you find yourself up to "eight," "12," even "19."
Try to do 10 minutes of this form of meditation.
You should get this powerful audio CD/ Book from Dr. Weil:
Click here
Relaxation Program
Maintaining a relaxation program will help clear your brain so it can better administer directions to your detox organs. `Other Resources:
Next learn about a Detox DIY...
Do you have questions or comments? Please send me an email at erik [at] basicbodydetoxreviews [dot] com.
