How do you relax?

Do you have a specific way that you like to unwind?

For a lot of us, our relaxation methods are not always the healthiest. Often we try to relax by numbing ourselves, be it with alcohol or TV. There's often an unconscious association we have with relaxation and not really being present. That relaxation equals zoning out.

Relaxation doesn't have to revolve around consuming something and can instead be a joyful practice.

When life gets stressful, we all need a way to relax and unwind. 

Why are we all so stressed?

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of The Art of Living,  says that "Stress is too much to do and too little time or energy". I'm sure you've felt that way. A never-ending to-do list, constant demands on you, and so many activities.

Of course, if you can reduce your to-do list then that is a great place to start!

But, in most cases, we can't delete everything from the list!

If increasing time isn't an option...?

So, if we can't reduce the list, that leaves us with time and energy.

Sadly, we've yet to discover a technique to slow time down! So, that leaves us with our energy levels and the need for deep relaxation.

Relaxed AND alert

You might be thinking "But I want to relax, not increase energy. In fact, that's the opposite of what I want to do!".

Often we think of feeling energetic as being hyper, caffeinated, and "buzzy". That stimulated the "I have so much to do" kind of feeling.

But here energy means alertness/awareness. The energy of poise and calmness has a different flavor to it. 

With a relaxation meditation session, you will increase your feeling of inner peace and calm, while also enjoying stress reduction and improved stress management. Not to mention a natural increase in energy! 

A vicious cycle

Tell me if this cycle sounds familiar:

• You have too much to do

• You push yourself too hard

• You feel exhausted

• You collapse and spend time recovering

• This slow, recovery time means tasks build up and you have too much to do...so you push yourself...

Are you in debt?

Many people are caught in cycles like this. Your mind is so busy, wellness goes out the window and deep relaxation is nowhere to be seen.

It's like being in debt. But relaxation debt rather than money.

How to get out of debt?

A meditation practice can make you internally rich. It can help to grow your "relaxation bank account". By learning meditation and relaxation exercises you can meditate your way to wellness.

What are the consequences of being so stressed?

So many of us brush off how stressed we are. It can almost be a "funny" topic, or for some people a badge of honor.

Of course, moments of stress are natural. This isn't to say that any time you feel stressed something has gone wrong. But when it becomes chronic, then your mental and physical health starts to be impacted. Your mind and your body start to suffer. That's when you need some help.

Chronic stress can lead to:

• Anxiety and depression

• High blood pressure and cardiovascular issues

• Menstrual problems

• Gastrointestinal issues

How do you meditate to reduce stress and anxiety?

I'd recommend treating meditation like learning any other skill and taking a class to learn it properly. It's great to be guided by a teacher and learn with them, and your teacher will share exercises and techniques with you that you can use again and again. A few classes will give you the background and confidence you need to discover your inner calm.

There are so many techniques! Which will work best?

There are so many techniques! From mindfulness to guided meditation to breath-based meditations. There are a lot of options.

If you want to not only reduce stress in the moment but also reduce how often you feel it too, then you will love SKY Breath Meditation. SKY will help you to be calmer and more relaxed, meaning you feel better in the long-term, and will find yourself acting more calmly when difficult things occur. 

As the name suggests, a SKY practice works with your breath to take you effortlessly into deep states of meditation, and to bring about life-long wellness and happiness.

What meditation is good for anxiety?

SKY is an evidence-based breathing meditation and has changed the lives of millions of people all over the world.

Meditation has a ton of amazing benefits including mental health benefits and physical benefits. From reducing (clinical and non-clinical) anxiety and depression to increasing T cells (which in turn boosts your immune system), to reducing the stress hormone Cortisol.

Who knew your breath was this powerful?

Plus there are other benefits for your body too, like reducing blood pressure, improving your sleep quality, and reducing inflammation. This means less pain, more focus, and feeling more relaxed and alert in your daily life.

In fact, there are even specific breath-based exercises for different outcomes. This is because every feeling or emotion also has a corresponding breath pattern, so by changing the way you breathe you can change the way you feel.

What about beginners?

It can be really intimidating starting something new! You want to feel inner peace, so you try to meditate, but instead, you just find a random pain in your body and distracting thoughts in your mind!

SKY is great for beginners (and advanced practitioners as well). In fact, many people who thought they "couldn't meditate" have found SKY to not only be doable but to be effortless too! So even if you have the busiest mind, you can still benefit from SKY and start a new meditation routine.

You've been breathing the whole time you were reading this, so you can certainly practice SKY Breath Meditation! Relaxation is just a few breaths away!

Your SKY invitation!

If you're ready to take your first step towards deeper relaxation and meditation, then I'm thrilled to invite you to join us for Beyond Breath. A free class where a meditation expert instructor from The Art of Living teacher will share a breathing technique with you, lead a guided meditation, and answer all your questions about the full course.

If you're ready to start breathing your way to greater well-being and relaxation, we are excited for you to join us!

Click the image below to save your spot!