Summary
Utilizing HeartMath Solution this book has exercises and techniques that, if practiced regularly, relieve stress, worry, tension, fatigue and related problems. I’m greatly oversimplifying this book. There is so much more to it, I’ll just get into the techniques and the book will tell you how and why they work. The techniques can even help you sleep better. Quite a promise, huh?
Stress related illnesses
These methods, after several weeks of practice, have been proven to eliminate mild depression, anxiety attacks and other stress related illnesses. You would be surprised by what illnesses are caused by stress and how they can be relieved and/or reduced through these HeartMath techniques. It just might increase your quality of life, get you to slow down (and slow down time as mentioned in Home with God), be in the NOW and have a happier life.
Practice
It is recommended that the techniques, all involving variations on breathing through the heart, be practiced regularly starting with Quick Coherence. After practicing for a few days or so you can add another technique and so on. I practiced Quick Coherence first as recommended in "Setting Up a Practice Program" on page 128. I practiced that one technique several times a day for about a week. After that I added the Hearth Lock-In and did those two techniques for about ten days before adding Attitude Breathing. Attitude Breathing is a much faster way to "change your attitude" as many of us have been told to do through the years.
My experience
Visible difference
With all of this practicing I got into quite a regular routine and found myself doing the techniques throughout the day. After practicing for a few weeks other people around me started to notice a change in me. After visiting us my parents called to say that they noticed how I handled things more calmly during their visit and how they could really see that I was using it and it made a difference. They are the ones who gave me the book after using it themselves so they could tell what made the difference. My husband even commented on how east I was to get along with and how nice the energy in the house felt.
It made me feel awesome
I was feeling great and was in bliss quite frequently. I would spontaneously become aware of my heart and feelings of peace and joy as well as a connection to the Divine. It made such a tremendous difference in my life and how I handled things that came up for me. Things that previously got me stressed and overwhelmed were taken in stride and I was so pleased with my progress.
Example
Well, I’ve used these techniques now very successfully in various situations. One night I was sleeping very restlessly. I had eaten things that I don’t usually eat, Day Light Saving Time had started and in changing the clocks buzzers were going off in the middle of the night and my sleep was suffering. After being woken up the third time I did the Heart Lock-In technique until I fell asleep and the rest of the night I slept well.
Suggestions
Since there isn’t an index you might want to make notes. For your convenience I’ve supplied page numbers for the techniques since you’ll need to refer back to them later.
Practice Program Techniques:
Quick Coherence is on page 44
Heart Lock-In is on page 80
Attitude Breathing is on page 103
Also mentioned in the book is a technique called "Freeze-Frame". It isn’t described in the Transforming Stress book but I see the author devoted a whole book to it: Freeze-Frame. There is also software, Freeze-Framer® v2.0 Interactive Learning System with Patented Heart Rhythm Monitor, if you want to take your practice to a whole new level and monitor how you’re doing. (The software includes the Freeze-Frame book.) The Journey to Wild Divine software program also provides feedback on how calm your energy is. It’s my understanding that the Freeze-Framer® software specifically uses the HeartMath methods and provides feedback on your HeartMath practice. See what works for you. I haven’t read the Freeze-Frame book or used the software so I’ll leave it up to you.
Conclusions
If you have trouble sleeping, feel stress, feel anxious, are nervous, depressed or just want to slow down and enjoy life more than I strongly suggest testing these methods for yourself. You will be pleasantly surprised. Included in the book are techniques and exercises to help you sustain and maintain your new calmer states of being.
View book details at Amazon.com: Transforming Stress