| After the rush-rush-rush of everyday life, | | | | |
| everyone wants to learn relaxation | | | | Quiet Ears |
| techniques. As our lives keep on becoming | | | | |
| more and more stressful, learning to relax | | | | In this technique, tell your body to calm |
| has become increasingly difficult. Today, | | | | down and take it easy by physically forcing |
| using natural techniques is a preferred | | | | quiet into your body. Lie on your back or |
| approach by many, as many people are leery of | | | | whatever position is comfortable and close |
| turning to medical assistance. There are many | | | | your eyes. Put your hands behind your head |
| different natural methods of relaxation; | | | | and place your thumbs inside your ears |
| there is no "one way". You need to find the | | | | closing the ear canal. A high-pitched rushing |
| one that works for you, and stick with it. | | | | sound will occur, this is expected. Shut |
| | | | yourself to all other distractions. Your arms |
| Guided Imagery | | | | will relax by themselves and you will |
| | | | eventually fall asleep. |
| Guided Imagery is exactly what it says it is. | | | | |
| Visualize yourself moving in a place that is | | | | White Noise |
| completely tranquil. Many people joking refer | | | | |
| to this as the "happy place", but that is | | | | White noise is commonly known as white sound. |
| essentially what it is. First you need to lie | | | | Since it utilizes many frequencies of sounds |
| down and close your eyes and think of the | | | | from high to low and back it has what is |
| "happy place". Pick a place that you would | | | | known as a "masking" effect. The noise itself |
| enjoy being in or fantasize about. It could | | | | will appear like a whooshing noise and it is |
| be a white sand beach with beautiful sea | | | | quite similar to the sound of rain or wind in |
| breezes whipping around you, or a grassy | | | | the trees. Studies have shown it to be |
| picnic in the mountains, it can be anything | | | | something that fills one with a sense of |
| and any place you want it to be. It does not | | | | peace as it is a sound derived from nature. |
| have to be someplace you've been, it could | | | | You can purchase White Noise CD's or |
| even be someplace you want to be. Your | | | | noisemakers through your local bookstore or |
| imagination is your limitation. While you are | | | | retailers online. |
| imagining yourself there, pay attention to | | | | |
| every sound, smell, warmth, feeling, | | | | These are just a few relaxation techniques |
| sensation. Picture yourself there and relax | | | | you can try on your own, there are so many |
| yourself. Use this place as often as you need | | | | out there. The key to this is that these are |
| to and whenever you want to. "Pretending" | | | | based on the same principles as exercise |
| that you are somewhere that you want to be | | | | does. You need time and practice with them to |
| when you can't be, can be very soothing. | | | | become successful with them. |