Stress Training

When I am feeling stressed out, it is not like I magically notice and can stop my stress with a snap of my fingers. I wish it were that easy. Stress training is something we need in life.

Fortunately, my relationship with stress has improved due to my meditation practice.Often I can get off the downward stress spiral without losing a whole day to the effects of stress.Stress reduction actions are becoming more effective over time, and I still am becoming better at instant stress reduction.But I would like to tell you about what works for me.

Reduce stress with the following practical ideas

Taking a walk.
I know this is not a rock-your-world piece of advice.Perhaps everyone just needs a reminder. Extricating myself from a stressful situation and walking around outside with my dog always lowers my stress level.

Listening to meditation music.
This one has never let me down.I fire up some binaural meditation music with my headphones to get my brain on-baord with my intent to de-stress.

Practice a breathing exercise such as pranayama.
Specialized breathing exercises really do work.Stress makes people hold their breath, that leads to many additional negative physical responses when your body needs oxygen the most. Doing a focused breathing exercise triggers your body to start relaxing, and with your focus on your breathing it is away from the situation that caused the stress to begin with.

An additional strategy for help with stress is "real-time observation of myself".
This is something that happens for me thanks to my consistent meditation practice. It doesn’t happen all the time but it is great when it does. In a stressful situation I can step outside of my brain, so that I am literally observing myself have a mini-tantrum or argument, and then fortunately step back into my brain and calm the hell down. That sounds weird to type out but its what happens.

Perhaps this is what is meant by esoteric Buddhist meditation texts that talk about “the observer becomes the observed”? I don't know, but causing life situations to get the best of me is motivating enough for me to become present and get a grip.

Sometimes stress busting is as simple as focusing on your breathing or taking a walk. Don’t let these tools simplicities make you think they lack power. You can read more about stress training to find different techniques you might like.

By: Scott Desgrosseilliers

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Scott Desgrosseilliers is the founder of www.TheMeditationMind.com and www.MeditationMastersNetwork.com You can find more stress related articles at www.TheMeditationMind.com/stress-training.html