Building a Toolbox of Comfort
Have you read Mary's Strategies for Building a Toolbox of Comfort on the A Wild Ride Web site this month? Mary offers some excellent ideas for Breathing and Relaxation Techniques. My personal favorite is: "Focus on your breathing to reduce tension, slow abdominal breathing – 8 breaths in – 5 breaths out. The slower you breathe the calmer you will become."
Mary also suggests that you find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted for 15-20 minutes. Okay, I can usually find the quiet place, but the problem is that my mind won't stay quieted for more than 30 seconds.
So, for those of us who have trouble letting our mind go and/or simply breathing, I offer this idea from Boston yoga and meditation instructor Joshua Summers (excerpted from Whole Living: Body + Soul, February 2008):
"Start Slowly. If you'd like to meditate but feel you don't have the time, start with one minute a day. The amount of time itself is somewhat irrelevant. They key is to start with something manageable and build on that. After a week, add another minute, and keep adding a minute every week. In 20 weeks, you'll be sitting for 20 minutes."
Okay, one minute. I think I can do that. I'll keep you posted.
Any other relaxation strategies? Send them to me or to Mary Scribner.
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