How To Stress Less: Dr. Deepak Chopra’s Tips To Ease Anxiety | TODAY

>>> WE ARE BACK WITH OUR SPECIAL>>> WE ARE BACK WITH OUR SPECIAL SERIES STRESS LESS TODAY WITHSERIES STRESS LESS TODAY WITH APRIL BEING NATIONAL STRESSAPRIL BEING NATIONAL STRESS AWARENESS MONTH. AWARENESS MONTH. >> THAT’S RIGHT. >> THAT’S RIGHT. NEARLY EIGHT IN TEN AMERICANSNEARLY EIGHT IN TEN AMERICANS SAY THEY FEEL STRESS IN THEIRSAY THEY FEEL STRESS IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. DAILY LIVES. THE MOST COMMON SOURCES THETHE MOST COMMON SOURCES THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION, WORK,FUTURE OF OUR NATION, WORK, MONEY, HEALTH, THE POLITICALMONEY, HEALTH, THE POLITICAL CLIMATE. CLIMATE. >> HERE WITH SOME TIPS TO HELP>> HERE WITH SOME TIPS TO HELP US COMBAT THOSE FRUSTRATINGUS COMBAT THOSE FRUSTRATING FEELINGS, THE ONE, THE ONLY, DR. FEELINGS, THE ONE, THE ONLY, DR. DEEPAK CHOPRA, HE IS ADEEPAK CHOPRA, HE IS A WORLD-RENOWNED LEADER INWORLD-RENOWNED LEADER IN MEDICINE, A BEST-SELLING AUTHORMEDICINE, A BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF 85 BOOKS WITH 15 MILLIONOF 85 BOOKS WITH 15 MILLION SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS. SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS. IF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH, HE HAS AIF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH, HE HAS A NEW PODCAST, DAILY BREATH, TONEW PODCAST, DAILY BREATH, TO HELP US CHILL OUT IN FIVEHELP US CHILL OUT IN FIVE MINUTES OR LESS. MINUTES OR LESS. DR. CHOPRA, THANK YOU. DR. CHOPRA, THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. >> SO CALMING. >> SO CALMING. >> I KNOW. >> I KNOW. YOU HAVE LIKE 12 JOBS. YOU HAVE LIKE 12 JOBS. HOW DO YOU STAY STRESS FREE?HOW DO YOU STAY STRESS FREE? HOW DO YOU REDUCE THE STRESS?HOW DO YOU REDUCE THE STRESS? >> STRESS IS THE PERCEPTION OF A>> STRESS IS THE PERCEPTION OF A THREATENING THOUGHT. THREATENING THOUGHT. IF YOU DON’T IDENTIFY WITH IT,IF YOU DON’T IDENTIFY WITH IT, THEN THERE IS NO STRESS. THEN THERE IS NO STRESS. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS PEACETHERE IS NO SUCH THING AS PEACE OF MIND. OF MIND. THAT’S AN OXYMORON. THAT’S AN OXYMORON. PEACE IS WHEN THERE IS ABSENCEPEACE IS WHEN THERE IS ABSENCE OF MIND. OF MIND. ABSENCE OF THOUGHT. ABSENCE OF THOUGHT. >> IS IT JUST YOU TRAIN YOUR>> IS IT JUST YOU TRAIN YOUR BRAIN?BRAIN? LIKE IF THERE IS CHAOS AROUNDLIKE IF THERE IS CHAOS AROUND YOU AND YOU WANT TO KEEP CALM,YOU AND YOU WANT TO KEEP CALM, HOW DO YOU DO THAT?HOW DO YOU DO THAT? >> GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR CORE>> GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR CORE BEING, WHICH IS PRIOR TOBEING, WHICH IS PRIOR TO THOUGHT. THOUGHT. I CAN SHOW YOU HOW TO DO THAT. I CAN SHOW YOU HOW TO DO THAT. >> WALK US THROUGH SOME TIPS. >> WALK US THROUGH SOME TIPS. THESE ARE THINGS FOLKS AT HOMETHESE ARE THINGS FOLKS AT HOME WILL BE ABLE TO DO AS WELL. WILL BE ABLE TO DO AS WELL. >> RIGHT NOW LOOK AT ME. >> RIGHT NOW LOOK AT ME. FOCUS EYES. FOCUS EYES. INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT ME, BEINSTEAD OF LOOKING AT ME, BE AWARE OF THE SPACE IN WHICH WEAWARE OF THE SPACE IN WHICH WE ARE RIGHT NOW. ARE RIGHT NOW. IN THIS SPACE HAVE A VAGUEIN THIS SPACE HAVE A VAGUE AWARENESS OF YOUR OWN BODY ANDAWARENESS OF YOUR OWN BODY AND EVERYTHING ELSE HAPPENING, BUTEVERYTHING ELSE HAPPENING, BUT BASICALLY SOFTEN YOUR EYES ANDBASICALLY SOFTEN YOUR EYES AND BE IN THE SPACE. BE IN THE SPACE. YOUR MIND IS RIGHT NOW SILENT. YOUR MIND IS RIGHT NOW SILENT. ISN’T IT?ISN’T IT? >> YEAH. >> YEAH. >> I WAS THINKING ABOUT –>> I WAS THINKING ABOUT — >> FOCUS AND SOFT EYES. >> FOCUS AND SOFT EYES. DO THAT THREE, FOUR TIMES A DAY. DO THAT THREE, FOUR TIMES A DAY. >> OKAY. >> OKAY. >> THERE IS ALSO A TIP INVOLVING>> THERE IS ALSO A TIP INVOLVING BREATHING. BREATHING. >> YES. >> YES. SO WHEN YOU ALTERNATE BREATHINGSO WHEN YOU ALTERNATE BREATHING IN ASSISTNOSTRILS, YOU SYNCHRONIIN ASSISTNOSTRILS, YOU SYNCHRONI THE BREATHING. THE BREATHING. PUT YOUR HANDS IN YOUR ARMPITSPUT YOUR HANDS IN YOUR ARMPITS AND TAKE A DEEP BREATH INTO THEAND TAKE A DEEP BREATH INTO THE COUNT OF FOUR SLOWLY, SLOWLY. COUNT OF FOUR SLOWLY, SLOWLY. THEN EXHALE TO THE COUNT OFTHEN EXHALE TO THE COUNT OF FOUR. FOUR. >> WHY HANDS HERE?>> WHY HANDS HERE? >> NOW YOU SWITCH. >> NOW YOU SWITCH. SO YOU TAKE THE LOWER HAND ANDSO YOU TAKE THE LOWER HAND AND YOU PUT IT WHERE THE UPPER HANDYOU PUT IT WHERE THE UPPER HAND WAS BEFORE. WAS BEFORE. AND ONCE YOU SWITCH AND REPEATAND ONCE YOU SWITCH AND REPEAT THE SAME PROCESS. THE SAME PROCESS. >> MY ARMS ARE SWEATY. >> MY ARMS ARE SWEATY. >> NOW YOU ARE ACTIVATING THE>> NOW YOU ARE ACTIVATING THE NOSTRILS AND DIFFERENT HEMNOSTRILS AND DIFFERENT HEM SPHERES OF YOUR BRAIN. SPHERES OF YOUR BRAIN. >> I SMELL HODA. >> I SMELL HODA. >> COUNT TO FOUR ON THE INHALE>> COUNT TO FOUR ON THE INHALE AND COUNT TO FOUR ON THE EXHALE. AND COUNT TO FOUR ON THE EXHALE. >> WHAT IS THIS DOING?>> WHAT IS THIS DOING? BRING YURG HEART RATE DOWN?BRING YURG HEART RATE DOWN? IT’S TAKING THE STRESS AWAY?IT’S TAKING THE STRESS AWAY? >> STIMULATE THE NERVE IN THE>> STIMULATE THE NERVE IN THE BODY CALLED THE VAGAL NERVE. BODY CALLED THE VAGAL NERVE. IT’S SO-CALLED BECAUSE IT’SIT’S SO-CALLED BECAUSE IT’S RELATED TO THE ENGLISH WORDRELATED TO THE ENGLISH WORD VAGABOND. VAGABOND. IT GOES EVERYWHERE. IT GOES EVERYWHERE. WHEN YOU STIMULATE THAT VAGALWHEN YOU STIMULATE THAT VAGAL NERVE, YOUR HEART RATE SLOWSNERVE, YOUR HEART RATE SLOWS DOWN, BREATHING SLOWS DOWN, YOUDOWN, BREATHING SLOWS DOWN, YOU FEEL RELAXED. FEEL RELAXED. RIGHT NOW THE WORLD IS ONRIGHT NOW THE WORLD IS ON SYMPATHETIC OVERDRIVE. SYMPATHETIC OVERDRIVE. TOO MUCH STRESS. TOO MUCH STRESS. THE OPPOSITE IS THE PAIRTHE OPPOSITE IS THE PAIR SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM. SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM. >> I HAVE AN ANXIETY DISORDER I>> I HAVE AN ANXIETY DISORDER I TALK ABOUT. TALK ABOUT. WHEN PEOPLE MEET ME, THEY ASKWHEN PEOPLE MEET ME, THEY ASK WHAT WORKS?WHAT WORKS? WE ARE AN ANXIOUS SOCIETY. WE ARE AN ANXIOUS SOCIETY. I USE MUSCLE TENSION RELAXATION. I USE MUSCLE TENSION RELAXATION. I TENSE UP AND LET GO. I TENSE UP AND LET GO. AS I’M LETTING GO AND FEELINGAS I’M LETTING GO AND FEELING THE TINGLING, I AM REPROGRAMMINGTHE TINGLING, I AM REPROGRAMMING MY MIND TO ZERO. MY MIND TO ZERO. >> THAT’S RIGHT. >> THAT’S RIGHT. WHAT’S WHAT WE DID IN WAY WHENWHAT’S WHAT WE DID IN WAY WHEN WE FOCUSED AND RELAXED WITH THEWE FOCUSED AND RELAXED WITH THE EYES. EYES. >> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING WHO ARE ANXIOUSARE WATCHING WHO ARE ANXIOUS EVERY DAY?EVERY DAY? >> THE PURPOSE OF OUR EXISTENCE>> THE PURPOSE OF OUR EXISTENCE IS TO MAXIMIZE THE EXPERIENCE OFIS TO MAXIMIZE THE EXPERIENCE OF INNATE JOY AND HAPPINESS, TOINNATE JOY AND HAPPINESS, TO MAXIMIZE OUR CAPACITY FOR LOVE,MAXIMIZE OUR CAPACITY FOR LOVE, TO UNLEASH OUR CRAVEEATIVETO UNLEASH OUR CRAVEEATIVE POTENTIAL AND BE HEALTHY. POTENTIAL AND BE HEALTHY. REMEMBER THAT, EVERYTHING ELSEREMEMBER THAT, EVERYTHING ELSE IS TAKEN CARE OF. IS TAKEN CARE OF. >> WE HAVE SOME FAKE GRASS. >> WE HAVE SOME FAKE GRASS. WE WANTED TO SHOW FOLKS AT HOMEWE WANTED TO SHOW FOLKS AT HOME ANOTHER TECHNIQUE THAT YOU HAVEANOTHER TECHNIQUE THAT YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT. TALKED ABOUT. >> WELL, WHEN YOU TAKE OFF YOUR>> WELL, WHEN YOU TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES AND SOCKS AND JUST WALK ONSHOES AND SOCKS AND JUST WALK ON THE GRASS –THE GRASS — >> WHAT’S AT THE ROOT OF THIS?>> WHAT’S AT THE ROOT OF THIS? GROUNDING YOURSELF?GROUNDING YOURSELF? >> YES, WALK ON THE GRASS OR THE>> YES, WALK ON THE GRASS OR THE BEACH OR THE GROUND. BEACH OR THE GROUND. AND WHAT HAPPENS IS NEGATIVEAND WHAT HAPPENS IS NEGATIVE IONS COME FROM THE EARTH INTOIONS COME FROM THE EARTH INTO YOUR BODY, NEUTRALIZE THEYOUR BODY, NEUTRALIZE THE RADICALS THAT ARE IN YOUR BODYRADICALS THAT ARE IN YOUR BODY DAY. DAY. NEUTRALIZES STRESS. NEUTRALIZES STRESS. INFLAMMATION GOES DOWN. INFLAMMATION GOES DOWN. BY CONNECTING WITH THE EARTHBY CONNECTING WITH THE EARTH DIRECTLY, YOU RESET YOURDIRECTLY, YOU RESET YOUR BIOLOGICAL RHYTHM. BIOLOGICAL RHYTHM. THIS A GOOD THING TO DO. THIS A GOOD THING TO DO. >> SUNNY HAD AN ACCIDENT OVER>> SUNNY HAD AN ACCIDENT OVER THERE. THERE. >> WHAT ABOUT MEDITATION,>> WHAT ABOUT MEDITATION, DOCTOR?DOCTOR? WHAT IS THE ACTUAL DEFINITION OFWHAT IS THE ACTUAL DEFINITION OF THAT?THAT? >> MEDITATION IS TO GO TO THE>> MEDITATION IS TO GO TO THE SOURCE OF THOUGHT AND BEYONDSOURCE OF THOUGHT AND BEYOND THOUGHT. THOUGHT. SO THESE DAYS THERE ARE MANYSO THESE DAYS THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO DO IT. WAYS TO DO IT. MINDFUL AWARENESS OF ANYMINDFUL AWARENESS OF ANY EXPERIENCE. EXPERIENCE. WHEN YOU ARE FULLY PRESENT INWHEN YOU ARE FULLY PRESENT IN THE MOMENT, WHATEVER EXPERIENCETHE MOMENT, WHATEVER EXPERIENCE YOU ARE HAVING, THAT’S A FORM OFYOU ARE HAVING, THAT’S A FORM OF MEDITATION. MEDITATION. BUT ALSO SELF-REFLECTION. BUT ALSO SELF-REFLECTION. WHO AM I?WHO AM I? WHAT DO I WANT?WHAT DO I WANT? WHAT’S MY PURPOSE?WHAT’S MY PURPOSE? WHAT MAKES ME GRATEFUL?WHAT MAKES ME GRATEFUL? AND ULTIMATELY THE WAYS TOAND ULTIMATELY THE WAYS TO TRANSCEND THROUGH MANTRATRANSCEND THROUGH MANTRA PRACTICE, TO GO BEYOND THOUGHT. PRACTICE, TO GO BEYOND THOUGHT. >> DO YOU EVER GET ANGRY>> DO YOU EVER GET ANGRY YOURSELF?YOURSELF? DO YOU FIND YOURSELF, TRAFFIC INDO YOU FIND YOURSELF, TRAFFIC IN L. A. , WANTING TO SCREAM ANDL. A. , WANTING TO SCREAM AND YELL?YELL? >> IT’S A WASTE OF ENERGY. >> IT’S A WASTE OF ENERGY. >> YOU ARE THIS TRANQUIL AND>> YOU ARE THIS TRANQUIL AND CALM ALL DAY EVERY DAY?CALM ALL DAY EVERY DAY? >> ALL THE TIME. >> ALL THE TIME. >> WOW. >> WOW. >> HE IS NOT HERE FOR YOUR>> HE IS NOT HERE FOR YOUR SHENANIGANS. SHENANIGANS. >> WHAT ABOUT OUR PHONES?>> WHAT ABOUT OUR PHONES? DO THEY GET IN THE WAY?DO THEY GET IN THE WAY? >> YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE. >> YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE. SO I SCHEDULE SOCIAL MEDIA TIMESO I SCHEDULE SOCIAL MEDIA TIME AND PHONE TIME. AND PHONE TIME. AND LIKE I SCHEDULE MEDITATIONAND LIKE I SCHEDULE MEDITATION TIME OR EXERCISE. TIME OR EXERCISE. HEALTH RELATIONSHIP TIME. HEALTH RELATIONSHIP TIME. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, DOCTOR. >> THANK YOU, DOCTOR. WE APPRECIATE IT. WE APPRECIATE IT. >> HE IS GOING TO BE WITH HODA>> HE IS GOING TO BE WITH HODA AND JENNA TOMORROW TO TALK ABOUTAND JENNA TOMORROW TO TALK ABOUT BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL TEAM. BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL TEAM. ALSO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MOREALSO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE WAYS TO STRESS LESS ALL WEEK,WAYS TO STRESS LESS ALL WEEK, INCLUDING HOW YOUR STRESS COULDINCLUDING HOW YOUR STRESS COULD BE IMPACTING YOUR KIDS. BE IMPACTING YOUR KIDS. WE WILL LOOK AT THAT LATER THISWE WILL LOOK AT THAT LATER THIS WEEK. WEEK. WE ARE BACK IN A MOMENT.