How to Achieve Total Relaxation

Everyone suffers from stress, but stress can take a toll on our bodies and our minds. Take a minute to relax – stop and smell the roses.

Step 1: Medidate Meditate. Find a quiet, relaxing place, sit with your back straight, close your eyes, and breathe deeply from your abdomen. Relax your muscles and relax your mind, focusing only on your breathing.
TIP: Chant a mantra, such as "Om," in rhythm with your breathing.
Step 2: Get a massage Get a relaxation massage. In contrast to a therapeutic massage, which is designed for pain or discomfort, a relaxation massage is intended strictly to relieve stress.
Step 3: Practice yoga Practice yoga. Enroll in a class or learn on your own. More than mere exercise, yoga intends to balance body, mind, and spirit through exercise, breathing, and meditation.
Step 4: Consider acupuncture Consider acupuncture. Acupuncture has long been used to treat stress and tension headaches and has been known to be calming and relaxing as well.
TIP: Acupuncture needles are hair-thin and not likely to cause any pain.
Step 5: Consider hypnosis Consider hypnotherapy. A hypnotherapist will induce a relaxed, meditative state and can introduce healing behaviors to alleviate stress in everyday life.
Step 6: Try self-hypnosis Try self-hypnosis. Self-hypnosis helps you to relax your body and mind, causes stress hormones to dissipate, and distracts your mind from unpleasant thoughts. Many tools for self-hypnosis are available on the web.
FACT: Studies have shown that hypnosis can suppress the brain's perception of pain.