When a baby is in the womb, the rhythm of the mother's heartbeat is the first exposure to music. Throughout life we respond to our preferred style of music; the soothing effects of that music reduce heart rates, raise body temperatures, and relax us. Each person has an ideal spot to unwind: perhaps a car ride with the music turned up, or a peaceful walk with headphones or MP3 players setting the pace; maybe lounging outdoors with sounds of nature and music playing, the smells of cut grass and summer flowers, and the caress of a gentle breeze.

This popular stress relief's exercise can be a great tool for you to use to control tension and enhance relaxation in both your mind and body. It will probably be most useful to you if you or a friend would tape record the following exercise and listen to it rather than to just try to read and remember the various parts of the exercise. Read the exercise slowly with pauses to allow the relaxation to occur.

Ten minutes of nature sounds therapy is like nature's lullaby, with lasting effects throughout the day. A tempo of 60-72 beats per minute imitates the rhythm of a heart beating, creating a hypnotic state and inducing sleep. Acoustic guitar, harp, flute, piano, etc., combine with the music of nature to block out disturbing sounds, triggering responses from the brain that reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and promote good health.