The key to managing stress

Hey Friends,

Today's topic is something we all deal with, yet we know how much better off we’d be — both

physically and mentally — if we could only get it under control and find stress relievers that

really work.

Here’s the harsh reality:

If you’re not managing your stress,

it is managing you.

Did you know that stress is responsible for 90% of all doctor’s visits? 90%!!! Things like anxiety, depression,

cardiovascular issues, digestive issues, insomnia, brain fog and premature aging are all intensified by stress.

So what do I do? Having a list in my tool box helps.

Some of them are: pray, journal, exercise, meditate, hike, spend time with friends, turn on the stereo and just dance (don't laugh try it!)... and the one I want to focus on with you today is deep breathing.

You can do it anywhere... in your house, in your car, in your bed, in line at the grocery store. I think you get

the picture. I cannot tell you enough how much it helps me manage my stress and roll with the punches.

I highly recommend you take a few moments for yourself and experience this powerful exercise that will move you from overwhelmed to overjoyed in minutes. Slow, deep breathing and specific breathing exercises helps the body override the sympathetic system, which controls our fight-or-flight response, and lets the parasympathetic system — which controls our ability to relax — play a more dominant role.

It's crazy how it's so simple yet also so complex that people don't practice this one little gift. Not sure how?

Try this.

1. Lie on the floor with your knees up and your hands on your belly. First just slowly feel the rise and fall of your belly as you breathe naturally.

2. Then take a deep inhale while blowing your belly up like a balloon. This may confuse you because most people take the breath in to their chest first.

3. Do this to the count of 5 -hold for 5-then let out a long exhale to the count of 7.

4. Repeat this three times then return to natural breath.

I promise you...if you can begin to bring this one simple practice in to your life you will:

• Be well prepared for that presentation at work

• Fall asleep quicker

• Manage the kiddos

• Calm yourself down in traffic

• Most important of all- Help the body heal!

Enter In...

Lisa