RELEASE.....

RELEASE...so you can De-stress, Decompress and Regain Control of Your Life
By Linda Shelton, Fitness and Wellness Educator; Beamfit™ Communication Director

In our frenetic, fast-paced lives, stress is inevitable; it takes a toll on our minds and bodies, stored internally day after day like an uncoiled snake ready to strike if we're pushed too far. Too many commitments, endless to-do lists, demands from your job, family or friends can leave you exhausted. When this happens, do you resort to unhealthy habits like mindless eating or grab yet another grande latte with double espresso shots for a much needed perk me up?

Or, perhaps you become so anxious and agitated that you skip your workout because the last thing you feel like doing is adding one more thing to your already jam-packed to do list.

Whether you need an energy boost or to recapture that peaceful easy feeling, you can regain self-control and manage stress by learning how to relinquish or RELEASE stress rather than hold it in until you explode. You have the unique ability to change the quality of your energy and go from being tense to tranquil or drained to revitalized, in a very short time.

In Beaming™, Release refers, in the physical sense, to the ability to move on the Beam without tension or muscle rigidity. Your body learns not to fight to neutralize tensional pull from muscles being out of balance, but rather you discover how to Release by responding to the resiliency of the Beam so your body feels naturally aligned. This is calming in itself. When your body is more relaxed and in balance, you can Release as in the act of letting go and, through breathing deep into your belly, you can maintain muscle balance, suppleness and easy movement. The Beam, because of its consistent balance challenges, forces us to learn to be reactive and responsive in the moment and to do so without stress, just as we need to do in daily life.

You can apply the Principle of Release in your life simply by learning to recognize your physical reaction to stress--holding patterns in your body, holding your breath, where you maintain and hide tension in your body which translates as aches and pains. Ask yourself:

1. Where do you hold your tension?

2. What would it feel like to let go in your body?

3. Can you Release without feeling like you're losing control?

4. What does the 'yea but' voice say in your head when you try to Release; do you set up mental roadblocks that prevent you from letting go?

Next time you recognize you're in stress mode try this; it's called Breathe Awareness 360, the same breathing technique we teach while Beaming™ to maintain and attain equilibrium in both body and mind to Release:

* Begin by inhaling deeply, taking in a full breath;use 4 counts to get past your chest and into your belly.

* Feel your rib cage expand cylindrically---front to back and sides.

* Exhale slowly and take 4 counts to empty your belly, your lungs.

* Repeat this technique for 1 minute.

By learning to control your breathing, you will learn how to Release. Deep breathing is the transducer between the body and mind which resets and balances your nervous system and can turn turbulence into tranquility, both on and off the Beam. When you can master staying in Release, you can become better stewards of your own health and well-being.