Types of Serenity

With bustling city traffic, phones ringing off the hook at the office and children crying at the top of their lungs, it may be very rare for a busy person to experience a moment of serenity. However, there are plenty of ways to get this calm and peaceful feeling, even if it only comes once in a blue moon.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

• One of the best ways to physically bring the body to a peaceful state is progressive muscle relaxation, or to fully relax each muscle. The process is simply that of isolating one muscle group, creating tension for 8 to10 seconds, and then letting the muscle relax and the tension go.

Meditation

• Sometimes our brains need a rest, literally. During meditation, one focuses on the present moment and eliminates the stream of thoughts that may be crowding the mind and causing stress. Types of meditation includes yoga and tai chi. Meditation also may help with depression, sleeping problems and high blood pressure. .

Relaxing Music

• Many stores and websites sell relaxation music, which can include birds chirping or the sound of ocean waves crashing against the shores. The sound of these steady, rhythmic activities provides a sensation of peacefulness. It also can aid the ability to sleep, reduce stress and provide a relaxing atmosphere for activities such as yoga, tai chi and meditation.

Breathing Exercises

• When many people are stressed, they take deep breaths to calm down. That's because deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. Breathing deeply sends a message to the brain to calm down and relax. The brain then sends the message to the body. Those things that happen during times of high stress, such as increased heart rate, fast breathing and high blood pressure, all decrease during relaxing breathing exercises.