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BIO: ON CHRISTIAN FISHER
Christian Fisher is an award-winning writer
specializing in stories of inner strength and triumph
over adversity. A regular contributor to Woman's World
magazine, Fisher is also author of "The Secret Nature
Within You: Practical & Spiritual Tools & Insights for
Your Journey of Self-discovery" (Journey of Life
Productions; 2000) and contributing author to
"Heartwarmers of Spirit: Triumphs over Life's
Challenges" (Adams Media; 2002).
An excerpt from "The Secret Nature Within You" earned
Fisher a Contributing Writer's Award in Ontario,
Canada from the founders of www.Heartwarmers.com in the
summer of 2000. A world-renowned web site at the time
with over 100,000 subscribers, www.Heartwarmers.com was
the inspiration behind a series of best selling
Heartwarmers books, of which Fisher also contributed.
Fisher's articles appear each month in Woman's World
magazine, North America's premier weekly woman's
consumer magazine. He has been writing for Woman's
World since 2000.
Fisher is co-author with Karen Justice-Guard of "Keep
Showing Up: Living & Healing Beyond Welfare & Abuse"
(Journey of Life Productions). Foreword is written by
Miss California 2002, Jennifer Glover.
"Keep Showing Up" has already been optioned as a
made-for-television movie.
Fisher involves himself to various degrees in causes
that especially help improve the quality of child care
and education. He is supportive of Children's Miracle
Network, Ronald McDonald House, and March of Dimes
among other organizations. These organizations often
appear in his nationally published articles.
Purchase a copy of Fisher's first award-winning trade
paperback book on inner strength titled "The Secret
Nature Within You: Practical & Spiritual Tools &
Insights for Your Journey of Self-discovery" for just
$11.95. Purchase with your credit card through Pay Pal
at the link below:
https:/ www.paypal.com/xclick/business=journeyoflife%40hotmail.com&no_note=1¤cy_code=USD
STRENGHENING THE BODY AND MIND AGAINST DAILY STRESS
by Christian Fisher
The power of relaxation was first brought to the
forefront of medicine in 1974 by Herbert Benson, M.D.
It was at that time that Dr. Benson and his colleagues
announced their discovery that conscious relaxation
causes several healthy changes in the body. In the
book, "The American Holistic Health Association
Complete Guide To Alternative Medicine," by William
Coolinge, M.P.H., Ph.D., these healthy changes are
noted. They include:
--Reduced blood pressure.
--Reduced respiratory rate.
--Reduced heart rate.
--Reduced oxygen consumption.
--Reduced blood flow to skeletal muscles.
--Reduced muscle tension.
Mentally and emotionally, you can also expect daily
relaxation practices to give you a greater sense of
calm, optimism, inner strength, and balance. Here are
a couple time-tested, proven meditative techniques
that produce the kind of relaxation that will
contribute to your overall physical, mental,
emotional, even spiritual wellness.
PROGRESSIVE RELAXATION
Do your best to practice this technique everyday.
Experts say it's best to practice relaxation for at
least twenty minutes per day. At first, practicing the
following relaxation technique may seem awkward. In
time, and with practice, you'll feel more comfortable
with the practice and the results.
Find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed. Make
sure you're sitting comfortably with your back
straight or lying comfortably with your arms along
your sides. Close your eyes and begin focusing on your
body. Slowly breathe in through your nose and out
through your mouth. When thoughts and images arise in
your mind, acknowledge them, then let them go away as
you bring your focus back to your breathing. Fully
experience each exhale. Practice this for about five
minutes or so.
Shift your focus to your body. Start with your feet.
Tighten the muscles in your feet and toes, hold them
tense for a couple seconds, then release the tension
and let your feet relax. Next, focus on your calves.
Tighten the muscles in your calves, hold them tense
for a couple seconds, then release the tension and let
your calves relax. Repeat this through all of your
major muscle groups as you move your attention up your
body. Tense your thighs, hold, then relax. Move to
your chest, hands, arms, shoulders, and finally your
face.
After you have relaxed all of your muscle groups,
mentally check over your body from head to toe and
feel for any muscles that are still tense. If you
notice a part of you that is not totally relaxed,
tense it up a little, hold, then relax. Sit, or lay,
in silence with your eyes closed for twenty minutes or
for as long as is comfortable.
TOUCHING SILENCE: A MEDITATION
Here is another way to reach a sense of deep
relaxation. This practice is perfect for the spring
and summer seasons because it can be practiced
outdoors quite easily. This is a meditation I first
introduced in my newest book, "The Secret Nature
Within You". It's called Touching Silence. A great
time to practice this particular meditation is in the
hours just before sunrise - say 3:00 AM to 6:00 AM.
Find a comfortable, fairly private place outside to
sit. Your back porch, your yard, or even a nearby park
might do.
Sit with your eyes closed and begin listening to the
breeze as it flows through the trees. No need to tense
up any muscle groups. This exercise is one of simply
listening very deeply. Let yourself become aware of
the sounds in the wind. Let yourself become aware of
the feeling of moving air around your body. When
thoughts or emotions arise spontaneously in your
awareness, acknowledge them for a moment, then gently
let them go. Get back to listening to the breeze. As
you feel yourself breathe in deeply, realize the
relationship between the breeze rushing around your
body and the breath rushing into your lungs. Enjoy
this meditation for twenty minutes or for as long as
you feel comfortable.
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