HeartMath Techniques for Stress Reduction
By Helene Pulnik | Published on August 12, 2010 | 0 Comments
A simple stress reduction technique can change the way you will view stress forever, says Dr. Helene Pulnik ND, LAc. She is a naturopathic physician who owns Glastonbury Naturopathic Center and Wholistic Spa in Glastonbury, CT, and talks here about the HeartMath method, which can really make a difference in people’s lives.
HearthMath is a technique that is meant for a person to do in the moment of stress. What differentiates it from other stress reduction techniques is that you don’t have to go to a class or to a therapist to practice it or learn it. You can do it yourself to manage stress at all times.
HearthMath has been studied by cardiologists and neurologists, and there are scientific studies that prove that it lowers stress hormones, boosts your immune system, and also boosts your own endorphins and encephalins. As soon as you feel some stress coming on, you can stop that release of stress hormones and instead get through that difficult time, think clearly, and make good decisions again. When people are stressed out, they generally do not make good decisions. They become angry, their thinking is conflicted, and they cannot approach problems rationally.
The HeartMath company is based in Boulder, Colorado, and it teaches HeartMath to corporations, people in the military, and elite athletes to improve their games. After all, if you are stressed out about your goals, then you cannot make good decisions with respect to them. The HeartMath company even went to New York City after 9/11 and taught this specialized method to schoolchildren there.
HeartMath can be applied to children, adults, and elderly people. It is a simple technique to learn but is very powerful. It involves three steps, which are:
- Focusing on the area around your heart.
- Pretending you are breathing in and out through your heart, breathing five seconds in, five seconds out.
- Recalling a positive feeling and trying to re-experience that feeling, appreciation for something, or that or care. Imagine that you are on a beautiful beach someone, seeing a sunset. Recreate that feeling and you will start to release the hormones that will enable you to feel better.
HeartMath has been developed so that it can actually be very effective in reducing stress, anxiety and depression. It’s also great to use with anger management, and now people are starting to use it to treat insomnia and reduce high blood pressure. There is even a HeartMath program designed to treat emotional eating disorders.
The same technique can be applied to all sorts of stress-inducing situations. Best of all, you can use HeartMath anytime, anywhere. You can do it in the car, when your boss is pressuring you, when your spouse is yelling, or when the kids are creating chaos in the house. It really is a fantastic natural way to relieve stress and regain control of your life.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.