Simple Stress Reduction- How to get your Zen on and watch dis-ease melt away!

Get Your Zen on and Watch Dis-ease Melt Away       "It's going to be OK. Let's just chill out for a minute." This was my attempt at calming down my son, who was certain that we were having a low-on-legos emergency. His response was classic: "There are a lot of things I can do mom, but I don't know how to chill out!"      Isn't this how we all feel? I mean, nobody enjoys the experience of being stressed out- racing heart rate, sweaty palms, the inability to think clearly... And it all seems out of our control. Children screaming, drivers cutting us off on the freeway, increased demands at work, bills... On top of it all, statistics show that 80-90 percent of all illness is caused by stress.      Think about that statement....."80-90% of all illness is caused by stress"..... That means that if we can get our Zen on, we have an 80-90% chance of health! I like those odds!      The human body is truly an amazing machine. It responds to your every thought and feeling by creating the molecular equivalent of that thought or feeling, and sending it coursing through your veins. In fact, when you're in a peaceful state of tranquility, your body actually produces valium! That's right, your body makes the exact same benzodiazepine molecule sold as a sedative, but you get none of the side effects.  Zen Chemistry 101- How to Make a Chill Pill J      That's nice, you might be saying, but how do I produce valium if I'm stressed? How do I find tranquility in the middle of traffic? How do I take the proverbial chill pill?      Well....      You have two very powerful Zen factories available to you at each moment of each day. The first one is your beautiful smile. That's right! Smiling releases endorphins (opiates,) serotonin (antidepressants,) and analgesics (pain killers) into your bloodstream.   Give it a try. Go ahead. Right now. Allow the sides of your mouth to curl upwards ever so slightly. Now try to stay stressed. Try to get mad. Or don't J Go with the smile. Allow it to encompass your whole body and be naturally high, happy and feeling good! J      The second Zen factory is your breath.  Minty fresh, or full of garlic, this trick works J Take a moment right now, keeping your smile, and breathe deeply....all the way down to your belly. Now breathe out, and let go. Breathe in...breathe out. Smile...let go.         You'll be amazed at how quickly you can turn down the dial of the stress hormones, and turn up the dial of the calming ones. It just takes a decision, a few facial muscles, and some oxygen.  The simplicity of it all sneaks up on those stress molecules like an aikido master, and despite all your practice at feeling stressed, you find you're feeling better.      And watch what happens to your kids, your family, your co-workers. Get your Zen on, and watch the indignation drain out of your co-worker's face. See how your kids smile back at you for no apparent reason.         Go ahead, be the one who lights up the room. Watch the happiness spread and know that you have mastered Zen Chemistry 101 J Peace, blessings, and smiles to all!  Claire J Web: NaiaHealingArts.com Email: NaiaHealingArts@gmail.com Copyright 2012 Claire Elisabeth Naia Healing Arts.  All rights reserved.