Eyes relax movies

Index
This section Index

Mnemonic index
Mnemonic and eidetic memory games

Puzzle
Logic games

Cards
Pyramid, Solitaire cards games

Math
Games for mind development

IQ test
Test your mind ability

Relax movies
Relax and meditation

The art of meditation: quick escapes to focus your mind and soothe away stress - One-, Five- & 10-Minute Solutions

Natural Health , May, 2004 by Linda Shelton

If you`re searching for a cure for stress and anxiety, look no further than your own mind. The calming mental practice of meditation is a powerful tool; practiced regularly, it can induce a state of awareness, serenity and well-being.

Meditation is more than a mental vacation; it`s a proven antidote to daily tension. When you extricate yourself from what is happening externally by turning your complete attention inward--even for a few minutes--you become more attuned to your thoughts, which in turn brings clarity, energy and vitality to your entire being.

The following simple brain games will enable you to flex your mental muscles, improve your concentration and revive your spirit. This is what total fitness is all about.

If you`ve never meditated before, here are tips to get you started:

Find a place you can be comfortable, either sitting or lying down. Experiment to see what works best.

Avoid distractions. Turn off the TV and take the phone off the hook.

Close your eyes.

Breathe slowly, expanding your rib cage, allowing the air to fill your belly; don`t breathe shallowly from your chest.

Try to stop thinking, if thoughts do come up--as they likely will--observe them without getting involved. Instead, concentrate on your breathing, a visual image or a mantra.

10--minute meditation

Try this easy-to-do breathing practice to help you find a conscious peace of mind.

First, get comfortable, either seated or lying down, and close your eyes. As you begin to breathe rhythmically, imagine your body relaxing. Inhale fresh, clean oxygen; exhale negativity and tension out. With each breath, imagine your entire body letting go. If you have trouble staying centered, picture a beautiful place such as a beach to focus your mind. Imagine the smell of the air and water, feel the warmth of the sun and the sand around your body. Now begin with your feet: Clench your toes and release them a few times, then let them relax. Move up your body in the same fashion--tense and release your legs, hips, hands, arms, spine, chest and neck. Let the tension melt from between your eyes and soften your mouth. If you notice any particular knots of tension, "breathe" into these spots as you exhale, allowing them to unwind. Once your body is completely relaxed, you`ll notice it`s easier to quiet the mental chatter that comes with constant stimuli and tension. Rouse yourself out of this space slowly; it`s a place you`ll want to return to again and again.

less than 10: one-minute respites and five-minute breaks

Use these easy techniques to get a quick energy boost focus your mind and release stress.

Say "om": Chant a mantra (such as "om" or another repetitive word or phrase) to quiet your mind and get you focused in the zone.

Breathe easy: Inhale and exhale through your nose, creating a rhythmic pattern that lengthens progressively. Inhale for four counts, exhale for four counts; then inhale for five counts, exhale for five counts, and so on.

Move and repeat: Along with your breathing, repetitive movement like walking, jogging, swimming or t`ai chi can be used to induce a meditative state.

1 min. Quiet your mind to gather momentary calm. Sit with your eyes closed; inhale for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts.

5 min. Before sleeping, slow and deepen you breathing as you visualize your body relaxing from head to toe.

10 min. Take a mindful walk: Meander and stroll, brining all of your attention to the beauty of your surroundings.

Letters - Letter to the Editor

Home Office Computing , Sept, 2000

Invisible Cables

I was impressed by the home offices shown in the June feature "Four Workers, Four Offices" (page 43). They showed good design principles. But something bothered me--the pictures on pages 44 and 45 were too neat. I`m not referring to the tack of paper and other odds and ends that naturally pile up around an office; rather, there were no visible power cords or printer cables.

When I designed my home office, I minimized cord clutter, but found it can`t be entirely eliminated. Did the home office furniture in the article have a unique wire management system that we didn`t read about? Or did you remove the inconvenient cords for better photos, to inspire us to work in such perfect home offices? If so, shame on you for making these changes without a disclosure. I want to see more realistic pictures so I can see how people handle the less glamorous elements of a home office.

Matthew B. Ragen via the Internet

Editor in chief Eric Grevstad responds: Yes, you caught us, our photos are as airbrushed and Photoshopped as the models in Vogue not. Seriously, we don`t hide cords and cables in our Office Design spreads of real-world home offices--indeed, July (page 40) focused on one office baseboard cable-concealment system, and we plan more on wire management, lighting, and other ergonomic topics in future issues.

That said, we exclude cables--and usually get one or two letters like yours calling us on it--in multiple-office setup features like June`s, for two reasons. First, they`re not supposed to be inspiring or perfect but are samples or suggestions, without space to include or discuss every detail (one recent letter protested the omission of wastebaskets). Second, they`re shot in constructed studio mock-ups that, well, don`t have AC outlets. No deception intended.

Eye Advice

As a professor of optometry at SUNY College of Optometry, I was happy to see an article on Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) in your June issue (Q&A, page 17). Our eyes aren`t designed to stare at a flat (two-dimensional) screen or book for hours at a time.

Eyes are designed to constantly change their fixation. Staring at a book or computer screen for too long causes eyes to lock in at close range, increasing nearsightedness or myopia. This causes eye fatigue, with symptoms including blurred vision, headaches, eyestrain, and sleepiness. The sustained fixation means eyes don`t blink enough and become dry. That`s why they burn or feel gritty after a long day at the computer.

Here are four easy fixes:

* To stop dry eyes, use a good-quality artificial tearing drop such as Refresh Artificial Tears, Gentle GenTeal Tears, or Hypotears Eye Drops. Drops marketed as CVS cures are simply repackaged lubricating drops.

* Look away from the screen to relax your eyes. Every hour, take a few seconds to strengthen eye muscles by looking near, far, and then quickly back and forth.

* Raise your chair or lower your monitor so you aren`t straining your neck muscles when looking at the screen.

* Check your eyeglass prescription. Older eyes naturally lose some ability to focus, making near work difficult. You may need special progressive lenses for computer work that differ from your reading prescription. Using bifocals to do computer work may result in a stiff neck, because glasses may be too weak or too low on your face for optimum viewing.

For additional information on CVS, check out these Web sites: www.DoctorErgo.com, www.eyeworks. corm/home_therapy, www.vision3d.com, and www.aoanet.org.

Jeffrey Cooper, M.S., O.D., F.A.A.0. New York City

Trashing the Big Boys

Although it`s popular to bash Microsoft these days, readers need a more balanced view from the magazine`s editors on the subject. Eric Grevstad`s comments in his June editorial ("A Verdict That`s No Surprise," page 11) remind me of the pessimists who once shunned Microsoft`s products because they feared innovation.

But, as Grevstad mentioned, Microsoft products such as TaxSaver and Bob faded away when consumers rejected them. Consumers do have some say in the matter. But the buying public likes Microsoft`s standard formats and affordable software. Stop bad-mouthing Microsoft, and instead spend time helping us reap the benefits of its products.

Claudio Venturini via the Internet

Write: Letters to the Editor, HOME OFFICE COMPUTING, 156 W. 56th St., New York, NY 10019 * E-mail: lettershoc@ftmg.net * Phone: 212-333-7600 * Fax: 212-333-4312 Letters must include the writer`s name, affiliation, and phone number. Letters included here may be edited for length and clarity. We cannot respond to every letter and phone call received.

Subscriptions/address changes: (U.S.) 800-288-7812, (Foreign) 303-604-1464 * E-mail (subscriptions): HOC_custserv@neodata.com

Reprints: Phone: 310-589-1305, Fax: 310-589-0497 * Manager, Reprint Division: Mike Horn * E-mail (reprints): mikeh@ftmg.net

Eyes relaxation index