Breathing is second nature.  We take our first breath upon birth and just keep on breathing until we die.  Do you ever get so busy you forget to breathe?  By simply slowing down and focusing on our breath, we can gain a sense of peace, reduce tension and relieve stress. Breathing exercises are fast, simple, free and can be done by just about anyone, anytime, anywhere.

Breathing in, I calm my body.
Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment 
I know this is a wonderful moment.
~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Laughter provides a physical and emotional release.  It reduces the level of stress hormones, while increasing the level of health enhancing hormones and anti-body producing cells, creating a stronger immune system and fewer physical effects of stress.  A recent study showed that pre-school-aged children laugh up to 400 times a day, but by the time we reach adulthood, we laugh a mere 17 times per day on average! A list of classic, funny movies is one of the supplements available with the BLESS Yourself program.

e.e. cummings once wrote, "the most wasted of all days is one without laughter."

Energize through playing and exercise. To energize is to activate, or invigorate, and energy creates energy.  Simple exercise like walking, dancing, even pushing children on swings gets you moving.  It's a known fact that exercise helps reduce stress and improve your mood, promoting a state of enhanced physical and mental well being. It combats chronic diseases and helps manage your weight, strengthens your heart and lungs, promotes better sleep and, it can be fun! Movement is an affirmation of living and a natural function to maintain wellness. Involvement in playful activities, and ones that stimulate the body, mind and spirit are energizing.

We don't stop playing because we grow old,
we grow old because we stop playing.
~ George Bernard Shaw

Streching brings life to the body and to the spirit.  Simple stretches can be done almost anywhere by almost anybody. Stretching can prepare your muscles for exercise and improve your flexibility, balance and coordination. Other benefits include enhanced physical fitness and development of body awareness, giving you more ability to learn and perform skilled movements.  It increases mental and physical relaxation and suppleness, due to stimulation of the production of chemicals which lubricate connective tissues.  This leads to reduced risk of injury to joints, muscles and tendons, and reduced muscular soreness and tension.

"If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, in our entire society, will benefit from our peace."
~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Smile and the whole world smiles with you. Well, maybe not the whole world, but a smile can be incredibly powerful. Research has shown that smiling has both psychological and physiological effects. Wearing a warm smile can draw people to you, put others at ease, and even cheer you up. According to poet and Zen master Thich Nat Hanh, in his book Being Peace, “A smile can relax hundreds of muscles in your face, and relax your nervous system. A smile makes you master of yourself. That’s why Buddhas.....are always smiling.”