Most people know and understand the power of the fight or flight response – that adrenaline jumping scare that raises your fists or high-tails you out of stressful situations. But, many don’t know that our body also is equipped with what Dr. Herbert Benson calls the Relaxation Response – a physiologic state of quietude,” aahhh, doesn’t that sound nice?

Why should you be aware of this? Because in our high stressed, anxiety ridden and tension induced world, regularly tapping into the relaxation response can prevent or at least compensate for, the damage that the fight or flight response creates.

Stress is a bully. It suppresses immune function, causes heart attack and stroke, weight gain and depression. It impairs memory and worsens sexual function. Yep, stress is an energy and vitality zapping disaster.

That is why it is vitally important to tap into your body’s Relaxation Response by practicing stress management techniques. By doing so, you increase your body’s nitric oxide levels which in turn relaxes your arteries and increases blood flow to all parts of your body.

And it’s easy!!

You can reduce your stress and increase your health by doing two things:

1.    Repeat a word, sound, phrase, prayer or muscular activity.
2.    Passively disregard everyday thoughts that inevitably come to mind and return to your repetition.

Sound familiar? That’s because it is….meditation!

Pick a focus word, short phrase or prayer. Many people simply say ooommmmm. Others use a word that is important to them – love, peace, home, God. You can even use a word that you need for that day: focus, communicate, forgiveness.

Then, Sit quietly in a comfortable position, close your eyes and relax your muscles progressively. Begin with your feet, move to calves, thighs, abdomen, shoulders, head and neck. Breathe slowly and naturally and as you exhale, say your focus word.

Other thoughts will try to crowd in. As they do, simply say oh well and return to your repetition. Continue this for 10-20 minutes.

When complete, sit for a few minutes in silence. Do this daily.

There…..can you feel your arteries relax already?