One of the very best ways you can help your body reclaim its optimum health is by practicing relaxation techniques. Did you know that everyone goes in and out of hypnosis (also known as an altered state of consciousness) on a daily basis? It’s true! Throughout the day, our body requires a certain amount of "down time"—time to rejuvenate, clear our head and reset our energy levels. In these times of stress and worry, our body may struggle more than ever to overcome the obstacles of less than perfect nutrition and sleep patterns, to help us keep up with the demands of the lifestyles we place upon ourselves.

Allowing your body, mind and emotions a couple of minutes every two hours or so, to relax and breathe in a healthy way can help you accomplish what you need to do and keep you healthy. Try this: Close your eyes and picture yourself on a beautiful deserted, tropical island. As you visualize yourself there, begin breathing in through your nose…a slow, deep breath that fills not just your lungs, but your abdominal area as well (place your hand on you abdomen, just below the belly button, to feel that area rise and fall). When you have comfortably filled the space with air, hold that breath for a count of three, then release the air by softly blowing it out through your mouth. Imagine that each time you exhale, you are releasing any pent up tension or stress that is housing itself inside of you. Within two to five minutes of doing this, you will find that needed "second wind" to keep on moving through your busy day. Simple, pleasant and powerful!

By using the power of your subconscious mind, you can improve your lifestyle choices and your health, in many ways. If you find that your life is more difficult or stressful than it needs to be (read: weight issues, sleep issues, stress issues or if you find yourself "self-medicating" to get through the day) you might need additional help or insight. Consider calling a well-trained, certified hypnotist to get you back on the track you want to be on. Your body (mind and emotions) will thank you for it.

Susan M. Sawyer BS, CMCHt, LLC is a Board Certified Master Clinical Hypnotist with 30 years of experience helping people live their best lives. Visit www.deja-sue.com or call 321-432-7267 for more information on how Hypnosis and the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) can help you.