TAKE FIVE

In just 5 minutes, you can shift from anxiety and worry to a place of calmness and clarity for better decision making and an overall sense of well being.   You can take a break at work, at home, in the midst of distractions. Just give yourself permission to take 5 minutes. It will give you more hours of quality time and you will be more productive and feel better.

Here's how:

1. Find a place you can be alone or undisturbed for a few minutes. If you need to head for the bathroom, or park your car at the unused end of a parking lot, do it.

2. Sit or lie comfortably. Close your eyes and just breathe.  Take a deep inhalation filling your lungs without stress or strain. Exhale slowly and deliberately. Breathe in again and breathe in joy and calmness.   As you exhale, breathe out worry, anxieties and tensions. Make the exhalations slightly longer than the inhalations and breathe with a steady flow. If it helps, count as you inhale, maybe to 7  and exhale counting to 9 or 10.   (By focusing on your breathing, your mind lets go of all thoughts and your energy is just focused on the  cleansing experience that is vital for your well being. Breathing rids the body of toxins and helps eliminate what no longer serves you physically, mentally and emotionally)

3. Rub  the palms of your hands together vigorously generating heat.  Now very gently place your fingertips on your eyelids (very carefully if you wear contacts). Allow your palms to rest fully against your cheeks and just feel the heat of your touch on your face. Using your fingertips, begin very slowly and gently massaging your eyebrows...your forehead...your temples.   Let go.  Relax.    Continue massaging your cheekbones...your jawline...your lips.   Let go of all tensions. Massage your neck and anywhere you feel  any remaining  tensions. Bring your fingertips back to your eyelids, palms resting on your cheeks and just let go. Relax.   Now return your hands to your lap.

4. Keep your eyes closed. Focus all your attention on your eyebrow center, the area between your eyebrows in the middle of your forehead.   Drop into the gaps between your thoughts. Breathe. As thoughts arise, notice them but don't engage in them. Don't judge or comment. Let the thoughts come and go. Let them  float by and drift away like puffy clouds.

5. Open your eyes and  feel grateful that you've given yourself this replenishing break. The more often you do this throughout your day, the more productive and balanced you will feel.  

If you can't take the time to do all of these steps, just do 1 and 2. Focusing on your breathing fills the brain space that your random thoughts would normally occupy and gives your mind a chance to rest and let go. You can even do the breath technique sitting at your desk, on an airplane, in bed (can help you relax for better sleep!)  

We flood our minds with constant thoughts that are usually a recycling of past memories and fears or anxieties about something in the future.   Being in the present and taking even just a few moments to be  silent can produce very beneficial effects to encourage healing and well being.

Feel good and be present in your life.

In love and light,   Peggy Sealfon  

Listen to an "Integrative Relaxation" CD to restore and rejuvenate.

Join a Relaxation Class for more in-depth techniques.

Bring the STRESS BUSTER SYSTEM  to your company to increase productivity and  good health.

Or try a private online introductory session of the Stress Buster .

Sleep problems?   Try the Sleep Gempack or the new breakthough StarSpire Sleep Aid System.

Need  a private session? Email me at Peggy@StonewaterStudio.com Sessions can be conducted online or by phone.