Click Player at End of Post to Listen to, "Why Stress Matters & Guided Meditation for Stress Release", episode 1 of the "Mind Over Stress Show" podcast.
This show is born out of my desire to help everyone live a healthier, happier, low stress life. As a former trainer for the Maryland Police Training Commission, I was tasked with developing the first stress management training program for police supervises way back in the 1970s.
In developing that early stress management program, I learned and experienced many stress reduction methods including hypnosis, meditation, and somatic or body-based relaxation methods. For more than 40-years, I’ve been an evangelist for encouraging people to take control of their own wellbeing.
Why Chronic Stress Matters?
If you enter the search term, “stress and health” into the Google Scholar search service, you’ll see nearly 4.6 million results. The science is clear: chronic stress robs us of a zest for life, health, and happiness.
A chronically stressed body can be a seedbed for physical and emotional disease. One key reason for increased disease risk relates to the immune system. Under chronic stress, the immune system can be degraded and in some cases virtually shut down entirely.
Study after study link chronic stress to increased risk for heart disease, cancer, and other serious conditions. One study found toxic workplace stress could take 33 years off of your life expectancy.
Stress creates a mental and emotional environment of anxiety and depression. There is a direct connection between our level of stress and our sense of happiness and emotional wellbeing.
Stress Makes us Stupid
Stress makes us stupid and reduces our ability to perform in an optimum way. Why? Because under stress, there are physiological changes that include redirection of blood from the brain to large muscle groups in the body in preparation for flight or fight. We simply don’t have the same brain power when we’re stressed.
How You Benefit From Listening to This Show?
You and I just explored the bad news about stress. The good news is there are proven, effective, and easily done methods for dissolving stress and enhancing physical and emotional wellbeing.
That is what this show is about. In every episode, you’ll learn the tools, techniques, and mindset to create optimum wellbeing.
Some episodes will include interviews with experts who will share their stories of healing and offer proven methods to achieve a happier, healthier life.
In other episodes, I will share the latest stress related research and provide easily done ways to dissolve stress and create positive, life-affirming states of mind and body.
First Stress Technique - Yawn, Sight, Stretch
Speaking of dissolving stress, let’s experience our first stress dissolving technique followed by a short guided meditation.
As simple as this is, the fMRI evidence tells us it's a powerful method for energizing the prefrontal cortex (executive function area of the brain) while relaxing the body. You simply yawn, sigh, and stretch. Yawn even if you don't feel a need to do so. Repeat two or three times for instant stress relief.
Guided Meditation - Audio Time Stamp 5:08
Please don’t listen if you’re driving or engaged in other activity requiring your full attention. Listen later when you can give 100% attention to this Relaxation Response experience.
To listen to this guided meditation for stress release, click the player below. If you want to go directly to the meditation section, go to the 5 minutes and 8 seconds position in the audio file.
You can also listen by going to https://bit.ly/2GOIz3P.
How to Share This Episode and Subscribe
Please share this episode with friends and family. The easiest way is to simply forward this blog post.
Blessings, light and peace,
A large meta study by researchers at the University of Tenn. and Texas A&M looked at 138 scientific studies with more than 11,000 participants to determine if facial expressions - including the simple smile - can affect mood and emotional state. 
