Relaxation Archives - Page 4 of 5

How stress affects your body

Oct

25

2015

Here is a great video on the physical way stress affects your body and how it makes you ill. Tips on reducing stress Try to avoid situations which create unnecessary stress eg avoid interacting with “friends” who stress you out. For on-going stress eg work, try to take time out through the day. Manage stress ...

How a wandering mind can impact happiness

Sep

24

2015

I wrote an article some time ago (He said, she said) on the wandering mind. Today, I received the following email from lumosity.com (a brain training app website): How many times a day does your mind wander? Whether you’re thinking about an important meeting or your next vacation, mind wandering may be a distinctly human ...

Why anyone can learn tai chi

Aug

4

2015

From a recent Lumosity newsletter: How the brain learns: 2 key research insights Can brain research help us become better learners? Here are 2 key research insights to keep in mind next time you learn something new. 1. Learning means new connections in the brain Your brain works like an electrical circuit. Every time you learn ...

Why everyone should do tai chi – and it’s not just for the reasons you think!

May

27

2015

Intrigued? Well, let’s just cover the reasons that you think you should do tai chi: helps you to relax and de-stress improves your health improves your balance keeps you moving, particularly if you’re in your senior years improves your sense of wellbeing There are loads of other reasons why people do tai chi but these are ...

Great music for tai chi and yoga

Dec

26

2014

As a tai chi teacher, I always play music when I am running a class because: it helps to set the right mood it can hide any background noises such as things going on outside the room. For these reasons, I would also recommend that if you practice tai chi, yoga or meditation, then you, ...

Tips for a good night’s sleep

Nov

27

2013

Why you need to get a good night’s sleep Rest is important for many reasons: it boosts your immunity it’s when the body grows and heals (particularly if you play sports) it’s just nice! 8 tips for a good night’s sleep make sure the room is not too hot or cold; if necessary remove the ...

Beginner’s guide to abdominal breathing

Oct

2

2013

Abdominal breathing is a type of breathing whereby you breathe into the abdomen and appear to fill it with air. What actually happens is that instead of breathing so that your lungs force your shoulders upwards, you push your abdominal area outwards as your diaphragm moves downwards. To perform this type of breathing, you can ...

He said, she said

Jun

19

2013

Relationships, whether between friends or lovers, can be a source of joy and happiness but they can also bring stress and anxiety into your life. A badly-phrased sentence or something said in the heat of the moment can lead to bad feelings and result in the conversation echoing around in your head for hours or ...

Can meditation really re-wire your brain?

Jun

17

2013

Yes, according to the latest scientific research! One of the many emails that drop randomly into my inbox mentioned a recent article by Dr. Marsha Lucas, an American psychologist and neuropsychologist describing how meditation can rewire the brain. The article is particularly concerned with how the brain handles relationships but reading between the lines (which ...

The gentle art of weight loss

Jun

4

2013

Whenever people want to lose weight, they immediately think about doing some very intense exercise such as running, cycling or aerobics. However, just thinking about leaping around the room or pounding the pavement mile upon mile is enough to make you tired! And while these are very efficient ways of burning fat and something fitness ...