| Stress is something that is almost incessant in today's | | | | Called the 'neurovascular' points in acupressure, they |
| busy world. Most of us wake up in the morning | | | | are located on the two points at the top of your |
| wishing we didn't have to. The desire to go back to | | | | forehead that feel a little rounded. If you draw a line |
| bed or just avoid the oncoming work day can set | | | | up your forehead from your nose, then you can |
| off the first round of negative emotions, which | | | | locate these points about halfway up and an inch |
| research has shown actually causes a chemical | | | | from the center of this line on either side. By lightly |
| reaction in the brain and the body that is damaging to | | | | holding these pressure points and breathing deeply, |
| you in large doses. No problem, you just woke up, | | | | you bring back blood into your forebrain that drains |
| definitely not enough to begin harming your body. | | | | away in times of stress. |
| Unfortunately, this is just the beginning. | | | | Since this particular part of the brain helps you in |
| Next comes the morning commute. Dealing with work | | | | your creative thinking, it is not considered necessary |
| pressures, colleagues, maybe even an unreasonable | | | | when your body decides that you need to fight or |
| boss or difficult customers continues to set of those | | | | run away. That is why your capacity for clear |
| chemical reactions in your brain and body. Cortisol, | | | | reasoned thought is the first thing to go when you |
| adrenaline and norepinephrine flood your bloodstream | | | | are under stress and that is also the reason why |
| preparing your body for it's standard 'fight or flight' | | | | 'sleep on it' is a common rule of thumb for dealing |
| needs. | | | | with important decisions. Sleeping gives your body a |
| In case you don't know, the 'fight or flight' response | | | | chance to relax and resume its blood flow to your |
| is our genetically programmed response to danger. It | | | | forebrain. When you don't have time to sleep your |
| was important to us, in physically dangerous | | | | stress away, hold the above pressure points and |
| environments of our past, when we had to either | | | | breathe as instructed above to activate your body's |
| fight a predator or flee it. So that we have all our | | | | relaxation response. |
| energy to fight or to run away, our body is designed | | | | The third step, which enhances the effects of the |
| to release a set of chemicals that will do exactly that. | | | | two steps above, is to place the index finger and |
| In our modern environment when fighting or fleeing a | | | | thumb of your other hand on the 'K-27' acupressure |
| work situation is rarely an option, these chemicals are | | | | points. These points are located where your throat |
| not just unnecessary but hazardous. | | | | meets your chest, find two little depression that are |
| Apply the following method and you will be able to | | | | right under the balls of your collarbone and massage |
| get some immediate stress relief and if you do it | | | | them vigorously. Doing this will also reverse some of |
| regularly it can become a powerful technique in your | | | | the effects of stress balancing two important energy |
| stress relief and management toolbox for just about | | | | flows in your body. Yes, I know this may sound a |
| any stressful situation. | | | | little weird but the benefits and effectiveness of |
| The first step in learning this stress relief method | | | | acupressure is well documented. Just type in |
| involves learning a simple breathing pattern. When | | | | 'acupressure' on Google to learn more about it. |
| you get stressed your breathing will become shallow | | | | The fourth and last step is to imagine a relaxing |
| and centered in your chest. By altering your breathing | | | | activity or image. You can choose a scene where |
| pattern you are taking conscious control over a | | | | you are relaxing on a warm beach or looking at a |
| symptom of stress and you begin to add oxygen to | | | | beautiful pond. Choose an image that makes you feel |
| your body, which immediately begins to reverse the | | | | good when you imagine it vividly. Picturing something |
| effects of stress. To do this properly just take slow | | | | relaxing helps relax your mind. |
| deep inhales followed by slow and complete exhales | | | | When you have practiced each step on its own, |
| till you feel like you have released most of the air | | | | combine them. Hold both acupressure points in the |
| from your lungs, with a slight pause. My breathing | | | | appropriate ways (described above), while breathing |
| pattern is generally as follows; I inhale for 5 seconds, | | | | deeply and imagining a relaxing scene. You will feel |
| pause for 1 second, exhale for 5 seconds and pause | | | | refreshed in under 30 seconds. Go ahead and do it |
| again for 1 second and repeat. You can adjust the | | | | right now (as you've probably already experienced |
| breathing pattern to suit your lung capacity but | | | | some stress today) and you may be surprised with |
| always breathe in slowly AND deeply followed by a | | | | the results. Regular practice of this technique |
| slow and almost complete exhale. | | | | throughout your day will dramatically reduce the |
| The second step is to place your index finger and | | | | effects of stress on your body and brain. |
| thumb on two points located on your forehead. | | | | |