RELAX FOR THE FUN OF IT
A Cartoon & Audio Guide to Releasing Stress
by Allan Hirsh, MA |
| Book Introduction |
| If we can laugh at our problems, we'll always have something to laugh about. Loving, gentle humor helps us feel lighter and more relaxed. Humor opens the doors that stress, tension and pain have closed. Humor can also help channel stress into something productive. Laughter can provide a distance from pain, which helps us to keep matters in perspective. |
| Humor alone, however, will not cure baldness or solve all problems. It's important not to get too tired, hungry, or negative. If we do, coping becomes difficult and we're more likely to overreact and make ourselves even more miserable. Humor and a snack helps with the negativity and hunger, but sometimes our bodies just need to rest and unwind. |
| In the back of this book is a sixteen minute relaxation CD. It is straightforward and effective. The CD has two tracks on it. The first track is sixteen minutes long and includes a gentle wake-up, so that you can continue with your day, refreshed and alert. The second track does not have a wake up so you can drift off into a pleasant sleep, if you so choose. By following the instructions on the CD, you will gradually become more aware of the muscles of your body, and your ability to release tension. In a short period of time, you will find yourself automatically relaxing parts of your body without even giving it much thought. When I was a student, I had a tension headache every day. My neck muscles would tighten up during the course of the day, and I had no idea what to do about it. I wish I had learned to relax earlier in my life. |
| You may want to follow the instructions on the CD first, or, start by reading the humorous guide on relaxation and stress management instead. It really doesn't matter. Learning to cope with stress is often a trial and error process. Sometimes you'll find that laughter will lighten your mood best. At other times, a few moments of physical relaxation will be your ticket back to comfort. |
| Relaxation is not a discipline, nor is it a chore. Your body looks forward to the pleasure and relief of unwinding. Relaxing is as natural to the body as laughing. All we need to do is open ourselves to the feeling; it's as effortless as a cat beginning to purr. The technique is not as important as the end result of relaxation. |
| Do what works for you. Do what you feel is fun. If you like the experience, you will naturally do it again. I love to relax. I take 16 minutes out of every day to take a mini-vacation.
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| May the joy of living gently tap you on your shoulder when you least expect it. |
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