Relaxing: Visualization

Effectively using visualization is a two-parter: the first way is for relaxation and the second is in preparing for the future.  (I'll cover the second part on the "Success" site I'm working on.)

Let's talk about visualization for relaxation.  This can be a quickie thing that you do in your classroom right before a test, while you're waiting in line, while you're sitting in a traffic jam...  Or it can be done much like meditation where you are sitting or lying in a quiet place.

Close your eyes (unless, of course, you are driving -- or trying to read this) and picture yourself in a beautiful nature setting like the beach, the mountains or a meadow full of flowers.  Let's go to the beach (my favorite place as you can see from all the pics on this site).  Visualize, smell, hear and feel every part of it.  You're sitting on the warm sand with your shoes off...  You can feel the warm sand between your toes...  You are looking out at the waves breaking on the shore...  Hear that soft, crashing sound of the surf and the seagulls...  Feel the cool breeze hitting your face...  Pick up a handful of warm sand and feel it slowly sift out between your fingers...  Smell the clean, salty ocean air...  This is a safe place...  No cares...  No worries...  Just you and the beach...  Peaceful...  Relaxing...  Feel the stress drain out of you as you soak up the warmth of the sand and the smell of the cool air...

Now that you've read it, try it yourself.  Read it back through one more time...  Then, close your eyes and try it...