Stress is the number one killer of our society today. In order to reduce anxiety naturally, you must learn to master your mind and focus. There are many easy ways to do this. One way is to use meditation and breathing exercises. Meditation and awareness are both important natural stress cures and both will help reduce anxiety naturally. The two primary tools used in meditation are Vipassana (Focus on the present) and mindfulness (Strive for mindfulness).
You may already be familiar with these tools, but for those who aren’t they are worth learning more about. Vipassana meditation is an art that helps you center and focus your mind and body. You focus on what is happening around you rather than what you are feeling or thinking. The goal is to train your mind to recognize when it becomes stuck in worry or fear and then break the cycle by reprogramming your mind to let go of the reaction. This technique can be very effective when combined with other relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or visualization.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction through meditation and daily activities is not only beneficial for your physical health but also for your mental well being. Studies have shown that people who are mindful of their bodies and emotions generally live longer than those who are more stressed out or anxious. It is thought that this occurs because being mindful reduces the feelings associated with stress and anxiety.
Different types of guided meditation can help you learn how to use Vipassana meditation to calm your mind and body. These types of meditations involve very close focus and detail of the breath, which is a form of meditation where the goal is to relax the mind. You want to learn to monitor your thoughts and pay attention to the sensations in your body as you focus on them. Your instructor will teach you how to use Vipassana meditation to focus your mind on your breathing and how to let go of worries and concerns that are in your mind. Guided meditations are excellent ways to reduce your stress levels and anxiety naturally.
Another way to effectively fight your anxiety is with behavioral training. Behavioral training involves changing your way of thinking so that you can better cope with stress and anxiety. For example, if you feel your heart racing and pounding in your chest at times when you are worried about an upcoming event, you might try changing the way you think about the situation. If you change your thinking to “just another stressful event” you may find that you can reduce the heart racing.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is another method that you can use to fight your stress and anxiety naturally. With the progressive muscle relaxation technique you work on controlling your breathing patterns using your abdominal muscles, which are stretched during a stress reducing exercise. As your abdominal muscles relax they send signals to your brain telling it to slow down and not to get stressed. With continuous practice over time you will find that you can control your breathing, which will enable you to calm yourself down much more easily.
You can also become aware of when your body is tensed or overly relaxed. Stressful emotions can make it hard for your body to become aware of its own breath. Tension and anxiety can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. As a result, your breath becomes rapid and shallow. By becoming aware of your breath you can change the way you breathe, which will enable you to control your anxiety and stress.
Reduce stress by finding a way to quiet your mind and focus on the present moment. Guided meditations, breathing exercises, and progressive muscle relaxation are wonderful ways to reduce anxiety and stress naturally. Your mind and body need to be in perfect balance to function efficiently. When your mind is focused on the present moment and your body is relaxed and your thoughts are peaceful, anxiety and stress will decrease naturally. In fact, as you practice these natural techniques over time, they will become a habit and your anxiety and stress will diminish naturally as a result.