Another powerful tool to lower stress, reduce tension and manage anxiety is to use imagery or visualization. These exercises can help promote a more positive mental state. Guided imagery allows us to focus on a scenario that helps us reach a peaceful, meditative state. Engaging in imagery activities allows you to lower stress levels both mentally and physically.
Imagery offers you an opportunity to use your senses to activate your brain and body. As you are guided through an imagery experience, you imagine yourself in the scenario. Your body will then respond as if it’s really happening. You can do everything from increase your level of stimulation to feel a sense of greater calm. The goal will be different for different lessons. Ultimately, the purpose of visualization is to increase your relaxation response. This will help you minimize the natural stress response in your body.
Benefits
Guided imagery is a great way to become more resilient and minimize the impact of stress on your body. Imagery helps you respond better to stressors and apply what you learn to your normal routine.
Imagery has been linked to a number of positive implications for your brain and body. Some of the immediate implications include:
- A reduction in heart rate and blood pressure
- Improved breathing technique and oxygen rates
- More healthful brain waves
- Slight change in body temperature
- More balanced hormones
It can also help relieve unwanted symptoms created by stress and tension, such as pain, high blood pressure, high blood glucose, digestive issues, headaches and breathing problems.
How Imagery Works
Imagery is based on the simple fact that your brain can exert a high level of control over the rest of your body. During visualization exercises, you mentally immerse yourself in a guided practice. Your body reacts as if you are actually in the imagined situation. This means that if you imagine yourself in a place of extreme relaxation and peace (whether a warm sunny beach or floating on a cloud) your body will respond as if you are truly having that experience.
Why Imagery Works
The reason you can use imagery as a way to reduce stress and tension is the power of mind over matter. Each time you engage in an imagery lesson, you help your body learn to lower stress responses and become more resilient. Over time, you will find that you have a heightened ability to respond more effectively to stress and enter a more relaxed bodily state.
How Resility Health can help you learn to use Imagery
By completing lessons that involve imagery and visualizations you can start promoting a more resilient mindset and respond better to stress. Imagery is one of the most effective relaxation techniques in the world. Because of this, we at Resility Health include these types of lessons to help you better manage your stress and become more resilient.
How Imagery Exercises and Biofeedback Work Together
When you pair guided imagery lessons with the use of your Resility Biofeedback Monitor you can get the most out of your lessons. Your monitor can track the tension in your back, shoulders, forehead or neck as you complete the lessons. This is a great way to see how your body is responding as you move through the lesson.
Imagery is one of the most powerful tools you can use to manage stress and tension and learn to respond better. By completing these simple practices you can react better to stress and become a more overall resilient person.
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