1.2 Toddling

Ok, So. By Meg Meyer v 1.2.

"Toddling"

Ok, So.

If you went through last month's article and followed the several simple steps; you saw how just a bit of the effort, that you put into your escapism/procrastination, when applied to your real life, can make a big, rippling, difference.

In this month's article we're going to take a few easy steps to get yourself moving and reduce the effects of stress, a bit.

In "Over The Hedge" the animals lament that "humans are gradually losing their ability to walk."

I thought of this, this past weekend as I traveled, by plane. People using "moving walkways" to get from one section of the airport, to another. Rolling Luggage. Able bodied persons using the Trolleys that are usually reserved for elderly and disabled travelers. It's like we give up our gift of movement just because we get lazy.

So, in a few easy steps, lets experiment with movement and stress reduction.

1. Even from right where you are sitting, reading this, there's something you can do. Lace your fingers in front of you, turn your hands palms away, and stretch your arms high above your head. Feel free to stretch your clasped hands to the right and the left, to maximize the stretch to your sides. This gets the blood flowing and a good stretch from your fingers to the base of your torso. (Stretch until you're content, but don't hurt yourself.)

2. Breathe. Any time stress, anger, overwhelm or negativity are getting to you. Take a moment and take a breath. Inhale through your nose, filling your lungs all the way down & think about how it feels. Do you breathe that fully normally? Or do you only fill a third of your lungs. (Many people breathe this way.) Exhale through your mouth, slowly, feeling your belly contract, then your diaphragm, expelling the air from your lungs. Repeat. Ten times, if you're able.

3. Pray / Meditate. People who do this simple thing are healthier and alleviate stress better than those that don't.

4. Get up & Move. If you can: dance. (If you want to: learn.) If you can: walk. If you can: sway. Yoga. Pilates. Aerobics. A stroll through your neighborhood. Do any of the above for three songs on your MP3 player. More, if you like.

5. Laugh. This one step will lower your stress and lengthen your life.




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