the stomach out and in correctly, simply place your palm over your tummy. For some reason, as yet unknown to this writer, this simple exercise
relaxes both the breathing and then the body and even the mind and induces
a state so laid back one becomes ready to nod off to sleep.
To do the progressive muscle relaxation exercise one starts by tensing
and relaxing the muscles in the feet, and then in turn in the calves,
thighs, arms, chest, shoulders and head for about five seconds each. It
is best to feel the tension in each muscle group and then release and,
like the breathing exercise, take slow and deep breaths pushing the stomach
out on the 'in'
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breath.
Why is it that when we put our heads on the pillow to go to sleep we start
to worry about everything going on in our lives, and usually about all
the negative things rather than the positive? Just taking a few minutes
a day to do these exercises certainly makes a big difference and may well
work much better at helping you get off to sleep than taking sleeping
tablets.
Max also explained that some simple positive affirmation exercises and
visualisations could help us clarify what we want, what we don't want
and what we want to achieve. They allow us to tap into the real 'deep'
self and not be distracted by the superficial, inconsequential and material
things in life.
It is best to take these exercises step by easy step, Max said, and try not to go for major achievements. Try and think of easy things to accomplish and
