Time to Relax
Michelle's Column in the Fullerton Observer

Have I told you about my latest adventure? I am teaching graduate school! I am teaching students how to become therapists. It is very exciting and fulfilling. I never realized how much I would love teaching.

I recently gave my students the assignment of meditating/relaxation exercises for two weeks. There are many ways to meditate, you can sit still and simply notice your breathing. You can walk and meditate. You can download a guided imagery tape from Itunes. This isn't strictly meditating, but it works for beginners and is a great way to relax.

It was interesting hearing about their experiences. Almost all of them reported that the first 2 or 3 were nearly a complete waste of time. But as they kept with it, because they had to since it was an assignment, they discovered the value of this exercise. They reported feeling more relaxed and being better able to focus. They were more successful with their tasks.

They all had to experiment with what technique worked best for them. Some listened to music. Some did the guided imagery. Some did progressive relaxation. Some did traditional meditation. Most tried a bit of everything.

The lesson here for all of us is that when we try to do relaxation exercises, we need to try different techniques until we find a few that work for us. We then need to do it every day or every other day, even if it doesn't seem to work the first few times. You will be amazed at the difference it will make in your life!