Help stop insomnia by relaxing

Insomnia

When we stress about things it does not seem to leave our minds at least until the problem is resolved. The problem with this is that these problems and stresses we take to bed with us without even knowing it. Having even one restless night can even screw up the way we feel the next day.

According to helpguide.org, "When you continuously don't get the amount of sleep you need, you begin to pay for it in daytime drowsiness, trouble concentrating, irritability, increased risk of falls and accidents, and lower productivity."

The amount of sleep each person varies by age. (Report from helpguide.org)

• Infants- 16 hrs per day
• Babies/toddlers 6 months to 3 years old - 10 and 14 hours per day
• Children ages 3 to 6 years old- 10 and 14 hours per day
• Children ages 6 to 9 years old- 10 hours per day
• Children ages 9 to 12 years old- 9 hours per day
• Teenagers- 9 hours per day
• Adults- 7 to 8 hours per day
• Older adults- 7 to 8 hours per day

Can relaxing help you sleep?

Informedhealthonline.com, spoke of a study conducted from researchers from the University of Alberta in Canada. The researchers taught people relaxation techniques to help them sleep. Some of the techniques used were breathing and self-hypnosis. These people had a relaxation session with these techniques given to them once a week for four weeks. "The researchers concluded that relaxation therapy could help people sleep longer, but the quality of their sleep did not really improve. The benefit mainly came from getting to sleep more quickly." Research also suggest that if you are having problems sleeping to try these techniques. More information could be found on http://www.informedhealthonline.com/.

Using Meditation to relax

Meditation

Meditation is when you involve your mind in a deeper train of thought. The stresses of daily life often leave our minds racing which could lead to things such as insomnia or even higher amounts of stress.

According to learningmeditation.com, "We start by paying attention to our breathing. The practical effort to focus completely on our breathing takes our minds away from the 'mind clutter' that constantly tries to invade our mind and eliminate feelings that will lead to a time of calm. With repeated effort the goal of clearing your mind- to think of nothing, does occur and the process of meditation takes on its own energy. The result is, and I guarantee this, peace, serenity, calmness, eventually opening yourself to new insights. "

When learning to meditate, realize that there is really no right or wrong way to do it. As I researched, I found that meditation is just time that you set aside for yourself. " A simple ten or fifteen minute breathing meditation can help you to overcome your stress and find some inner peace and balance, " how-to-meditate.com said.

According to how-to-meditate.com, "meditation can also help us to understand our own mind. WE can learn how to transform our mind from negative to positive, from disturbed to peaceful, from unhappy to happy."

If you are ever feeling stressed or down. Give yourself the gift of 15 minutes to meditate. You might find that it helps you.

Does your dog help you relax? Return the favor.

Ahhh........

Chateau Poochie

Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

For those who would like to pamper their dog and to return the favor of relaxation.

I would compare Chateau Poochie as being a very high class establishment with European style, luxe fabrics and fine furnishings.

Chateau Poochie offers many services including:

A senior center for older dogs

Zen wellness center

Salon & Spa

Doggie disco and social lounge

Daycare

Botique

Training

much more....

Their boarding center is no ordinary boarding center. It looks more like an actual hotel room that we would stay in. There is housekeeping where linens are changed daily. Luxury bedding, minibar menu room service, flat screen tv's, and a profession staff that is there for your dog all around the clock, all week and all year around.

The salon and spa offers things such as aromatherapy baths, pawdicures, massages and much more.

Chateau Poochie Featured on CNBC


It is quite an amazing place and something to look into if you would like to treat your dog.

For more information visit:

http://www.chateaupoochie.com/

-or-

(954)- 561-8111

Pets help us relax

If you are a pet owner, you should know your pets are there for you whenever you need them, as long as you are willing to be there for them too.

According to totallystressedout.com, taking the time from your busy schedule to snuggle or play with your pet can lower your blood pressure. It is a healthy thing to do for you and your pet.

Holistic online's research shows that pet ownership can:

*Reduce stress-induced symptoms

*Requires less medical care

*Add years to your life

"Pet ownership may affect people physiologically though the soothing and relaxing effect of touch. And speechless communication with a pet, or simply watching a car or fish, may produce a relaxation response with little demand on the patent," Holistic online said.

Interesting Study: There was a study conducted with 92 people who were hospitalized with heart problems. Those out of the 92 people who owned pets lived one year longer than those who were not pet owners. "The study found that only 6% of patients who owned pets died within one year compared with 28% of those who did not own pets," holistic online said.

Yoga

"Yoga is a practical aid, not a religion. Yoga is an ancient art based on a harmonizing system of development for the body, mind, and spirit. The continued practice of yoga will lead you to a sense of peace and well-being, and also a feeling of being at one with their environment."

(Information taken from www.yoga.org.nz)

Yoga is just one way to help you relax. It requires you to use different breathing techniques and postures.

The benefits to doing yoga will help both your physiological and psychological being.

To view psychological benefits visit:

http://yoga.org.nz/benefits/psychological_benefits/benefits_psychological.htm

To view physiological benefits visit:

http://yoga.org.nz/benefits/physiological_benefits/benefits_physiological.htm

According to the healthguide, (www.helpguide.org), yoga is a relaxation practice. It is something that you should take time to do but the benefits are worth wild. "Most stress experts recommend setting aside at least 10 to 20 minutes a day for your relaxation practice. If you'd like to get even more stress relief, aim for 30 minutes to an hour."

Laure Carter from The sanctuary Holistic Wellness Center in Delray Beach, Florida offers "Lifeskills Yoga Coaching".

"Lifeskills is a twofold yoga practice. First, "asana", or poses practice, created by Ana Forrest, connects you to your spiritual and physical core based on the pillars of Breath, Strength, Integrity and Spirit. Lifeskills Yoga practice, created by Jessica "Unmani" King, 'Where yoga meets life and life meets yoga' is the second aspect of this unique yoga practice, bringing awareness, steadfastness and integrity to your life," Carter said.

If you are interested in inquiring about her classes you can reach her at:

Laure Carter (954) 871-6826

Laughter and relaxing

Laughter

Laughter is something easy that we could do for ourselves everyday. It is a way to help us relax and to take a load off when it comes to stress. Susan Stewart is co-founder and partner of It's My Nature, a home based business in Florence, Oregon that provides aromatherapy and herbal comforts (http://www.itsmynature.net/). "Laughing releases the tension of pent-up feelings and can help us keep things in perspective. Laughter is one for the body's safety valves, a counter balance to tension. When we release that tension, the elevated levels of the body's stress hormones drop back to normal, thereby allowing our immune systems to work more effectively," Stewart said.

Laughing is a good pick-me-up that provides both short term and long term effects as well.

(The following is reported by the MayoClinic)

Short Term Effects:

• Stimulate your organs. (Enhances your intake of oxygen rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain).
• Activate and relieve your stress response. (A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling).
• Soothe tension and stomachaches. (Laughter can also ease digestion and stimulate circulation, which helps reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress).

Long Term Effects:

• Improve your immune system. (Negative thoughts manifist into chemical reactions that can impact your body by bringing more stress into your system and ecreasing your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses).
• Relieve pain. (Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkiller).
• Increase personal satisfaction. (Laughter can also make difficult situations a little bit easier).

So are you feeling a little stressed out? Try a good laugh. Its the cheapest kind of medicine.

Stress can lead to depression

It should be a priority for us to relax and make a conscious effort to keep healthy. According to the Life Positive Foundation, "Minor stress events can stir up depression symptoms depending on the personality type." Depression affects a variety of people. The degree of how much it affects a person depends on their age and their gender. According to Laurie Norman, who is a licenced mental health counselor, October is known to be national depression month. "Some people say that depression feels like a black curtain of despair coming down over their lives. Many people feel like they have no energy and can't concentrate. Others feel irritable and cry frequently for no apparent reason. The symptoms vary from person to person, but if you feel down for more than two weeks, and these feelings are interfering with your daily life, you may be clinically depressed."

Norman also informs us that depression is a serious illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts that can last weeks, months or years.

If you or a friend is feeling depressed, it is best to get help instead of thinking that the problem will just go away on its own.

A good place to call or visit is:

Professional Centre' of Delray Beach

4205 W. Atlantic Ave.,

Suite C302

Delray Beach, FL 33445

Phone: 561-495-8868

www. counselingspecialist.com