Stress Management Program
Stress contributes to the development of emotional instability, mental disorders, heart failure, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, and many other chronic health risks, which negatively affect the overall quality of life. We cannot erase stress from our lives; however we can learn to cope with it. We can train the mind to change the intensity of stressed internal reactions, to eliminate negative responses, to improve sleep patterns, and to reverse the health risks. This program is based on the principles of body-mind connection, and incorporates training in diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness meditation.

Increasing body awareness through diaphramatic breathing reduces heart rate and blood pressure levels. Practicing diaphragmatic breathing contributes to the development of healthy reactions to stress and helps our body and mind collaborate in achieving emotional stability. The effectiveness of diaphragmatic breathing can be increased with progressive muscle relaxation, which fights anxiety, promotes blood flow to large muscles, and drastically reduces tension. These relaxation techniques are the first steps to more advanced strategies, such as practicing mindfulness meditation.

Mindfulness allows us to concentrate on the present moment and to experience life as it unfolds; instead of being absorbed in the regrets of our past or worries about our future. Very often our perceptions of reality are distorted by our past experiences, false beliefs and prejudices, and cultural or social biases. Mindfulness promotes insight, calmness, and the ability to understand oneself and one’s emotions. It mobilizes all of our inner strengths, and helps conquer physical and mental problems.

Successful stress management plays a prominent role in sleep rhythm improvement. Implementing such techniques as setting the anchor time, re-shaping daily activities arrangement, determining the personal sleep window, and planning the wind-down time contributes to the development of healthy sleep patterns. Incorporating these modules into the routine relaxation and meditation practices can lead to a new and enjoyable mental and physical state.