If you try to use the Magic Mind Technique when tired, irritated, annoyed or in any state that stops you from concentrating on your goal, the method will be less effective. Whenever you feel stressed, your muscles tighten and your mind begins to wonder, you begin thinking about the past or how you are to deal with a future situation, the last place your mind wants to be is in the 'present'. But it is while being in the 'present' that you can fully exploit the Magic Mind Method.
This chapter explores some common and not so common techniques for entering a relaxed state of mind and consequently a relaxed body, although some techniques start by relaxing the body and allowing the mind to follow.
In a relaxed state you are focused in the 'present', your Inner-Self also becomes quiet, like a child, ready to receive information or direction and in your case, ready to receive a 'command'. A 'command' that will direct your Inner-Self to help create your desired goal.
Also, learning to relax can have many other benefits in you life, it can create a feeling of confidence, giving an ability to cope with everyday pressure, including:
* Reduce unhealthy stress & anxiety
* Increase resistance to illness & disease
* Lower blood pressure
* Reduce the heart rate
* Relieve muscle tension
* Cope with medical problems, such as chronic pain or diabetes
* Prevent, manage & cope with migraine headaches
* Cope with extremely stressful or painful situations, such as childbirth.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (Basic Method)
Get in a comfortable position. Take a deep breath and minimally tighten your right fist so that you feel only the smallest amount of tension. Hold it at this level. Be sure you continue to breathe... Begin to exhale while letting go and relax... Observe the difference in feelings between the right and left arm and fist.
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Take a deep breath and now minimally tighten your left fist. Hold at this level so that you just feel the tightening... Begin to exhale while letting go and relax. Let the relaxation spread through the arms and the rest of the body.
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Now tighten ever so slightly the following parts of your body, remembering to take a deep breath first, then exhale when relaxing.
Each time tighten only to the point at which you can observe tension, where you become conscious of or can "feel" the tension. Hold the tensions at that level, and be sure you tighten only the intended muscle while the rest of the body stays quiet and relaxed. Be sure you continue to breathe deep when applying tension then exhale when relaxing. Each time you let go, let those parts relax further and further. Tighten ever so slightly your scalp... let go and relax... Let the face become smooth and soft... Let the eyes sink into their sockets... Now slightly tighten the throat and neck. Hold it... Let go and relax.
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Take a deep breath and minimally tighten the triceps. Be sure the neck eyes and tongue are relaxed... Let go.
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Take a deep breath and raise your shoulders to your ears minimally. Be sure the neck stays loose. Observe how the shoulders feel different from the rest of the body... Let go and relax. Feel the relaxation sinking through the body... Minimally tighten the stomach. Keep breathing... Let go and relax. Minimally tighten the buttocks... Let go and relax. Minimally tighten the feet, calves, and thighs... Let go and relax. Let yourself reach an even deeper level of relaxation, a calmness and serenity.
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Take a deep breath and minimally tense every muscle in your body so that you just feel the minimum tension... jaws... eyes... shoulders... arms... chest... back... legs... stomach... Be sure you keep breathing. Feel the minimum tension in every part... Let your whole body relax. Feel a wave of calmness as you stop tensing.
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The order in which you apply muscle tension is not important, although most people start with the feet and finish with the head, as long as you reach every area of your body, the method will work.
Now, with your eyes closed, take a deep breath and hold it. Note all the minimum tensions... Exhale and feel the relaxation and calmness developing... Note the feeling of heaviness.
At this point you can also apply a relaxation command word or phrase. It can be anything you wish, e.g. 'total relaxation', 'peaceful flow' etc, each time you practice the relaxation exercise say to yourself when starting 'I now enter (total relaxation)'. This will train your mind into entering this state of relaxation more quickly and completely.
Alcohol:
Although a drink of alcohol can often help us to relax, I would advise against any before performing the Magic Mind Method. Alcohol can stop our energies from moving smoothly to the Inner-Self. I'm not advocating you stop consuming alcohol, just that you have none prior to performing the Magic Mind Method. You are far more sensitive to your energies when no alcohol is within your body.
A Good Long Bath:
We all know how relaxing a nice long bath can be, your troubles just seem to float away. Try adding 'sea' or 'dead sea' salt, as well as helping to relax, it's also very good at cleansing the skin. Eastern philosophies believe it helps to remove negative energies from the body. In the West, Salt has long been used as protection against evil spirits.
A Long Walk:
As long as the weather is fine, a long brisk walk stimulates the nervous system, when returning home, the body is able to relax while the mind stays alert.
Nature All Around:
Whenever we walk, run or simply sit surrounded by Nature, all our muscles, internal organs and mind become synchronized with Natures vibrations and rhythm. Try sitting with your back against an Oak tree. The tree is able to absorb negative energies and ground them into the earth.
Music to Tame the Savage Beast:
We all have our favorite piece of music that allows us to drift and relax in a timeless daze.
Deep Breathing:
see the section on Breathing.
Stretching Exercises:
Although simple, stretching our limps and muscles is a very effective method for relaxing. Whenever we encounter stress our muscles and joints automatically become stiff, stretching allows the energy to flow without blockage.
Meditation and Self-Hypnosis:
These two methods can be extremely beneficial to both the body and mind. Not just for relaxing but in creating a confidence that has the potential to transform the whole of your life. But they are beyond the scope of this ebook, although many sites on the net contain good advice on these subjects.
Yoga:
As with meditation the benefits are extensive, but beyond this ebook, but I would highly recommend you try Yoga if not already doing so. Hatha Yoga is aimed at relaxing the body. Raja Yoga is more for the mind.
Visualization:
see section on Visualization to help you relax.