Healing for Your Mind, Body, and Spirit
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During the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life, it's often
difficult to find those quiet moments for yourself. However,
to stay truly balanced spiritually and emotionally, it is
important to spend at least a couple moments each day in
meditation. Studies have shown that those who meditate on
a regular basis encounter fewer chronic illnesses and less
stress.
Visualizations
Techniques and
Meditation class,
please visit
anadizmoon.com/class
.html or call us at
708-386-3703. The
next round of classes
begins November 30.
balance yourself so that afterwards you will feel energized, cleansed, and rejuvenated.
Busy schedules and demanding course work contribute to stress. Special circumstances
such as a particularly critical exam or a schedule that seems to become more and more
overwhelming may heighten stress. Such circumstances suggest a need for special
techniques that help to reestablish mental calm and clear thinking. Visualizing a relaxed
state is one such technique. Visualization exercises involve creating soothing mental
pictures, or visual images, to rethink the reality of an experience. If, for instance, your
stomach begins to tighten up every time you think about going to the computer lab, it
may help to rethink the experience, substituting soothing images to eliminate the stressful
feeling.
Virtually all visualization exercises start with attention to breathing. Relaxation is
established by consciously breathing in a steady inhale, exhale, inhale fashion. Attention
to this normally unconscious action, plus slowed breathing itself, produces a more
relaxed feeling. Within that relaxed state, a visual image is created of a calm, safe, and
comfortable setting. Frequently people like to visualize their favorite spot under a shade
tree, on the beach, by a quiet stream, perhaps in a favorite park. The good feelings of this
special place, its atmosphere, are then transferred to the stressful situation in order to
reestablish a sense of calm. This is especially important to the study process since a
relaxed sense of self contributes to clear thinking and active learning.
If you find yourself feeling tense and anxious—muscles tight or stomach queasy—and
unable to concentrate fully, try the following exercise. It may take you some time, but
with practice it’s an effective tool.
Find a quiet place to lie down and relax. Close your eyes and begin by breathing
consciously—slowly and steadily. Repeat to yourself, Inhale... Exhale... Relax... Inhale...
Exhale... Relax....“ Steadily increase your attention to breathing and forget the source of
your tension and anxiety. Feel yourself relax.
With this fully comfortable and totally relaxed feeling, refocus your attention back to the
circumstances of your stress, back to your place in the study process. Visualize yourself
once again at study - now fully relaxed. In this fully relaxed state, you are now confident
that you can resolve your problems, fulfill your goals, and achieve success. The sense of
relaxation and self-confidence will allow you a true opportunity for success.
Now open your eyes, feel your relaxed state, realize your sense of awareness, and begin to
go about your business relaxed and with renewed self-confidence.
This visualization exercise takes about 10 to 15 minutes and should be practiced until it
becomes easy to use. Take time to create vivid images of peaceful places to transfer the
relaxed state of that environment to situations that create stress. Remember that this
exercise is useful not only as a response to stress but also as a preventive measure,
offering the benefits of a relaxed, self-confident self.