Stress release and stress managment

A unique technique:
for stress release and stress management

The Five Keys to Well-being stress management and relaxation techniques are
easy-to-learn, simple to practice and versatile in application. Stress release and relaxation utilizing effective breathing, good posture and focussed mind awareness are integral to the Five Keys to Well-being technique for general well-being.

Benefits

● Vital life management skills.
Invaluable insights into attaining body-mind well-being.
● Stress management.
Understanding the origins of stress in order to develop the means to manage it effectively.
● Facilitates short-term stress release.
Preventing stress habbits to turn into chronic stress patterns.
● Emergency stress relief.
Releasing acute anxiety or panic attacks caused by extreme, unmanaged stress.
● Rejuvenation and healing.
Deep, focussed rest counters the damaging effects of stress and exhaustion, and assists and speeds up recovery.
● Mind power.
Focussed relaxation is a great teacher of the power of the mind.

MANAGE THE MIND

Recognize that stress begins in the mind, that the body tenses up in response to the mind. Acquiring any mental focus or meditation skill is the first line of defence against stress. Meditation develops the ability to focus on the present moment to the exclusion of the thoughts which transports the thinker to the future or the past, the origin of the stress situation.

As the thought-situation or root cause of tension experienced in the body begins with worries or concerns about future situations, these tensions can be instantly released by bringing the mind "into the now", to be in the present, with the aid of deep, whole-trunk breathing.

Learning to clear the mind of "thought clutter" and to focus "in the moment" is the secret of any successful person in any endeavor.

THE BODY-MIND CONNECTION

Mental tension, caused by worry, anxiety or fear, lock the body and mind in a grip causing the muscles used for effective breathing to tighten. When the pressure is on, for example, during tense meetings, or driving the kids to school in peak hour traffic with another appointment waiting – say to discuss a worrisome health concern with the doctor – the body tends to become uncomfortably tight, and breathing strained. Worry before an event associated with pressure may cause lack of sleep, with tiredness adding frustration to tension, causing loss of simple enjoyment of life and its small pleasures so easily overlooked when stressed out.

Understanding the body-mind connection is the most important aspect of stress management, and implementing elements of good posture, effective breathing, self-inquiry and applied meditation techniques vital. As it is the mind that causes the physical stress condition during stress scenarios, manifesting as tightness in the body, both body and mind should be treated to effectively alleviate and manage stress.

No change is possible without changing mental attitudes, and cognitive awareness of and remedies treating the root causes of stress need to be developed simultaneously. Investigate and address the problem causing states of mind.

The Five Keys to Well-being technique releases tension in the neck and shoulder area, and throughout the bodya, including the smaller muscle of the face and jaw. Poor posture and tightness of the chest makes it difficult to breathe, simple stretches, postural awareness and regular focus or meditation and relaxation programs brings about permanent positive change. The time spent on practicing the program, however brief, even as little as five minutes per day, serve as training to grow awareness for or applying the techniques in everyday circumstances.

POOR POSTURE AND BREATHING CAUSE BODY STRESS

Recognize that stress begins in the mind, that the body that tenses up in response to the mind. Acquiring any mental focus or meditation skill is the first line of defence against stress. Meditation develops the ability to focus on the present moment to the exclusion of the thoughts which transports the thinker to the future or the past, the origin of the stress situation.

As the thought-situation or root cause of tension experienced in the body begins with worries or concerns about future situations, these tensions can be instantly released by bringing the mind "into the now", to be in the present, with the aid of deep, whole-trunk breathing.

Learning to clear the mind of "thought clutter" and to focus "on the moment" is the secret of any successful person in any endeavor.

POOR POSTURE AND BREATHING CAUSES BODY STRESS

Poor posture restricts the range of motion and ability to breathe effortlessly, causing tension that locks in stress, making the body an uncomfortable place to be. Slouching hour after hour in the office, or holding the body tense while driving in heavy traffic, thinking about stressful appointments without breathing properly allows tension to build in the neck and shoulder area.

Developing the ability to defuse physcial and mental stress patterns is a vital step to ensure health, productivity and happiness. Mental or emotional tension or turmoil manifests as body stress when the body, already ill at ease, is further compromised by a tired, edgy, irritable or worried disposition, causing further poor posture, ineffective breathing and tension in persons unaware of the body-mind-breath connection.

When the conditions leading to stress and its resulting impact on the body remains unchecked the negative body-breath-mind tension will continue and cause ongoing and increased discomfort, triggering an ongoing negative feedback loop of stress patterns, causing chronic stress.

MANAGE STRESS WITH GOOD POSTURE, EFFECTIVE BREATHING

Body-mind stress may easily be alleviated, permanently, with the simple postural, stretch and relaxation techniques of the Five Keys to Well-being system. The benefit of good posture and effective breathing for natural stress management is based on understanding its impact on the body, an implementation program to correct problem areas and everyday awareness to apply the insights.

Teaching the body to not tense up in response to the mind by improving posture and adopting effective breathing techniques has an automatic positive influence on the state of mind. Good posture and effective breathing arrests the stress cycle in its initial stages, releasing or preventing tension from building up in the body, sending relaxed body language messages to the mind, triggering ongoing positive feedback loops, creating more well-being.

Links

See the Relax and Rejuvenate page.

See the relaxation positions for improved posture and deep stress release.

Learn to breathe for improved stress management and deep stress release.

See the posture/breath videos from the Five Keys to Well-being DVD.

Meditation is an important Body-Mind-Spirit Integration lifestyle choice.

See the weight-loss and slimming application of good posture and breathing.