When our days feel overly busy or stressful it can be nice to slow down and find moments of stillness. There are many ways to do that throughout the day, even if just for a minute or two. Here are a few ideas:
- Take a slow mindful walk/stroll in nature.
- Take a pause and a few slow, deep breaths.
- Find a peaceful spot in nature to sit and soak in the natural beauty.
- Take some time to read a relaxing book, collection of poetry, or other favorites.
- Do some gentle stretching or take a gentle yoga or tai chi class.
Another way to find stillness can be through meditation. There are many different styles of meditation. Some are more energizing while others are more calming. Some types of meditation focus on the breath or sensations in the body. Yin meditation encourages being open to what might unfold during the experience of the practice. A yin meditation helps us to be curious, open, and gentle towards our inner experience and can support self-compassion. Yin meditation can help us to slow down and cultivate a sort of fluid stillness, like a still pool of water.
Find a comfortable posture and find stillness with Dr. Juli Olson, VA program lead for Acupuncture, as she leads an 8-minute Yin Meditation.
VA’s Whole Health approach incorporates self-care techniques, including mindfulness, to help you find stillness and to be more conscious of your thoughts and feelings. This type of practice can help with relaxation, processing grief and improving focus. To learn more about mindfulness, visit https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/veteran-handouts/index.asp.
Each of us has the power to impact our well-being. Whole Health offers the skills and support you need to make the changes you want. The Circle of Health can get you started with self-care resources to live a happier life: https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/circle-of-health/index.asp.
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I was 5 foot 9 when I joined the Marines 1
I was in the Marines in the fifties. Records show me as 5 foot 8.71 years later I am 5 foot 2.
I recently fell in a hole while walking in the woods.
I was taken to the hospital with a fractured spine.
I can navigate but at 90 the body will not function properly
What can i do lessen the pain in my lower back?
6
Totally true !!! From 1990 to 2000 when my wife was alive we went to two Acupuncture doctors, husband and wife living in Tampa, Fl. The Mrs treated the ladies and the Mr treated the men. My wife was treated successfully for Cluster headaches. I was tuned up, balancing my Yin and Yang from head to toe. Start over again and again. I now live in Gulf Breeze, Florida as a widower. My beloved wife of 55 years passed away February 11, 2019 from her battle with ALS. When she passed away I was so pleased that God took her rather than prolong the pain and agony. Over the past two years I experienced two fake, butcher shop, phoney Acupuncturists. Today I had my first appointment with the REAL THING and she is a beautiful person and doctor. Tiny and petite and does she know her Acupuncture. I was a navy diver for 20 years. enlisted/officer and all of the Rambo things I did from 59-79 caught up with me 5 years ago, 2016. She is going to treat my disabilities ( 60 % ) and I am going to remain for maintenance treatments for the rest of my life. I am 80 now and in excellent health with the exception of the aches and pains of the back and joints.