Calming your mind is a skill – and it can be practiced

Topics

• Member benefit
• Well-being and leisure

Have you ever noticed how sometimes your mind seems to be racing even though your body is at rest? Your thoughts are spinning nonstop, your concentration is wavering, and you feel restless even though you’ve had enough sleep or taken a break.

This is familiar to many people – and the good news is that calming down is not a matter of chance or luck. Relaxing your mind is a skill that can be practiced, just like muscles or mobility. And even small everyday measures can have a surprisingly big impact.

Check out these two simple but effective exercises offered by Yogaia, which is included in the YTK Worklife member benefits. You can try them right away, and there are also instructional videos to help you.

1. Deep breathing – a quick way to recover

Breathing is something we do every moment, but we rarely consciously stop to use it as a resource. Deep breathing, or diaphragmatic breathing, is one of the quickest ways to calm the nervous system and take the body out of a state of stress.

Try this:

• Sit comfortably or lean back against a pillow
• Breathe in deeply through your nose, counting to four
• Hold your breath for seven seconds
• Breathe out slowly through your mouth, counting to eight
• Repeat 3–5 times

This simple breathing technique helps lower your heart rate and tells your body that you are safe. Just a few calm breaths can have an effect.

Would you like to try a simple and proven effective breathing exercise under guidance? Watch the video and follow along:

2. Guided imagery – a calming moment with the help of your own imagination

The brain does not distinguish greatly between the imagined and the real. When the mind is given the opportunity to wander into a safe and pleasant environment, the body reacts in the same way as if it were actually there – calming down and recovering.

Try this:

• Close your eyes and breathe calmly
• Imagine yourself in a place where you feel peaceful – for example, on the beach, in the forest, or in front of a fireplace
• Focus on what you see, hear, and feel
• Stay in this image for a few minutes, without rushing

This exercise helps you slow down and put your body into a state of recovery – especially useful when stress starts to build up.

Watch a guided video on guided imagery and calm down under the guidance of a professional:

Make the exercises part of your daily routine

You don’t have to learn to calm down on your own. With Yogaia’s guided exercises, you can find the right way to pause and recover – even if it’s just for a few minutes at a time. Check out Yogaia’s blog for more effective methods to help you learn how to truly calm your mind.

Are you interested in clearing your mind and exercises designed to support brain health? Yogaia’s new Brain Power Wash program (Aivojen Tehopesu) includes dozens of guided exercises that are less than 10 minutes long. It is a 3-week program that takes care of your brain and helps you build a brain health toolkit that suits you. You will receive concrete exercises that fit into even the busiest of schedules. As a member of YTK Worklife, you can get the program at half price!

Check out the program: Aivojen Tehopesu – kirkasta mielesi 3 viikossa

A brief moment to breathe or take a mental break can change the course of your entire day. Try it today and notice the difference!