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Be Relaxation Strategies informed with the latest Relaxation Strategies expertise
Stress can affect all aspects of our home lives, our work lives, our social lives, and virtually every aspect of our beings. You'll see, in no time your stress will go away, and you can once more focus on the things you want to focus on. Organic Life When you know how the mind body connection works, you can use it to decrease and manage your stress. 02 - An Introduction To Visualization Exercises
02 - An Introduction To Visualization Exercises
Visualization is something that you almost certainly know how to do, but perhaps do not use as frequently as you once did. As a child, your imagination allowed you to transform a pile of boxes into a magnificent castle, or an old dress into a beautiful gown. Psychologists often use visualization exercises to help their patients achieve positive self images or to deal with difficult emotional situations. They know that an image imbedded in great detail in the mind can have a powerful impact on the body. By using that same ability in a visualization exercise, you can help your body to relax.
Visualization forms an important part of many other exercises including relaxation exercises and meditation and so it is important to begin by practicing visualization skills first, before moving on to experiment with different relaxation and meditation exercises.
You may find that visualization is quite an easy technique to master, or you may struggle a little bit with it at first. However, using your imagination is rather like using the muscles in your body - it can be strengthened with exercise. All that is required is concentration and a willingness to let your imagination go.
Try the following object visualization exercise to help flex that imagination muscle.
1. Take a common object from your home and place it on a table. Sit at the table with the object right in front of you.
2. Study it carefully, noticing the details of the item. Note such things as its color, size, shape and the way the light hits it and try to memorize as much detail as you can.
3. Now close your eyes and imagine the object. Look at it in your mind's eye. How much do you remember about the item? Are there details that you can't quite recall?
4. At this point take note of how you are feeling. Do you find this exercise stressful or interesting?
5. Erase that picture from your mind and, while still sitting at the table with your eyes closed, think of another object somewhere in your home. Try to picture it, once again in as much detail as you can.
6. Open your eyes and go and find this second object. How close was the picture that you painted in your mind's eye to the object itself? In particular note which details you missed in your visualization?
7. Once again take a moment to think about how you are feeling and whether you find the exercise at all stressful or interesting.
8. Erase this second object from your mind.
9. Now, sitting at the table with your eyes closed once more, try to remember and visualize an object from your childhood. How much of the object can you recall? Can you remember the details clearly? Can you place the object in its surroundings?
10. Once you have a picture in your mind's eye, notice how your mind tries to fill in the gaps using your imagination. Can you tell which parts are coming from your memory and which are being created by your imagination?
11. Now, picture in your mind's eye a common type of object such as a vase or bowl that you have never seen before. Give it detail. Imagine its color, size and shape. Imagine holding it. What does it feel like? Is it heavy? Is it smooth or rough?
12. Finally, take a moment to think carefully about how you feel.
When you first start using visualization exercises you might be surprised to find that they are a little stressful and that is why it is important not only to do the exercises but also to think about just how you are feeling. You should not however be put off by any feelings of stress and should certainly avoid any temptation to give up on the grounds that "this doesn't work". With practice visualization exercises will become easier and any feelings of stress will soon disappear. Share Your Opinion. (0 posts)
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