| 1. Aromatherapy | | | | only to balance the body when you are under stress, |
| Scents such a lavender and sweet marjoram can help | | | | but also to promote better sleep, digestion, and |
| calm the mind and body. | | | | increase metabolism. |
| Custom aromatherapy blends can be especially | | | | We can't always avoid stress in life, but we can |
| powerful to not only evoke calmness but also heal | | | | certainly re-balance our bodies to better cope with |
| agitated energy that may be a chronic issue leading to | | | | stress. |
| conditions such as high blood pressure, ulcers, and low | | | | 3. Visualize Peaceful Scenes |
| energy. | | | | Take a few moments to picture a quiet stream in the |
| Essential oil scents can be inhaled directly from their | | | | middle of a cool forest. Or perhaps your serene space |
| bottles or diffused to shift the mind from agitated, | | | | is the ocean with its soothing blue waves. |
| hectic states to more serene states. | | | | As you visualize your favorite nature space, direct |
| To evoke greater relaxation, I often diffuse Chinese | | | | your mind to notice as many things as you can about |
| essential oil blends in my qi gong studio so that people | | | | your peaceful place. |
| begin to de-stress the moment they step inside. | | | | What is the temperature like? |
| The scents immediately create a shift of | | | | What scents do you notice? |
| consciousness to facilitate deeper relaxation. Try a bit | | | | What sounds do you hear? |
| of aromatherapy before you work out, meditate, or | | | | What feelings do you have? |
| take a soak in a spa. You'll get deeper results. | | | | By focusing your mind on not only visualizing but |
| 2. Herb Break | | | | imagining a full sensory experience, you empower |
| Detoxify the body and reduce the impact of stress | | | | yourself to redirect thoughts away from anxiety, |
| with a cup of Chinese medicinal herb tea. | | | | worry and hectic thought patterns. |
| Chinese herbalists can provide custom formulations not | | | | |