In today's hectic world, certain forms of exercise and relaxation, like yoga, meditation, and visualization, have become extremely popular. People go to yoga classes on their lunch hours, take group meditation breaks, and do a number of other things to relieve the everyday stress of working. If you have OC tendencies, or full-scale OCD, taking up one of these practices could do wonders for your state of being.

Yoga

One discipline that's great for general relaxation and well-being is yoga. As you've read elsewhere in these pages, yoga is a discipline that has been helping people relax (and, in the bargain, become more flexible) for centuries. As you will discover when you begin to search, there are many different forms of yoga. You might want to explore more than one before you decide which kind you might like to practice.

Yoga uses breathing (generally deep breathing), stretching, and various poses to induce relaxation and calm. Many of its adherents claim other benefits from the practice, as well. In addition to classes (most likely offered at your local “Y” or adult education center), there are many good books that explain, with illustrations, how to practice yoga and give information on its history and other ideas related to nutrition and meditation. There are a few instructional TV programs (most of which air in the early-morning hours) and a number of DVDs that teach yoga, as well.

Meditation

Meditation is another ancient practice known to help reduce anxiety. Like yoga, meditation sometimes makes use of various postures and deep breathing. Essentially, it is about focused awareness, usually on things that get overlooked in modern, busy lives: the body, breathing, and the sounds and sights around us.

At its simplest, meditation might consist of closing your eyes, breathing deeply and focusing on your body, your breathing or, especially in transcendental meditation (one branch of the discipline), a mantra, a word that has no meaning. (Modern meditators, however, sometimes choose words that do have positive meanings.)

There are many good books and audio materials that can help you get started. Depending on where you live, you might also be able to find meditation classes. Some retreats offer these, as well. Generally speaking, daily meditation, like most other disciplines, is best practiced in small increments (maybe twenty to thirty minutes at a time) when you first begin.

Visualization

You may also find visualization useful for general calm, as well as for helping you to attain some of the things you want. (These can be anything from quitting smoking to getting more dates to taming your OC fears and behaviors.) Visualization is usually not taught in classes, but there are several good books and audio materials that can get you started and help you practice. (Please see Appendix A for some suggestions.) Your therapist may also be able to help you learn visualization.

Essentially, visualization is like creative daydreaming. Guided imagery makes use of suggestions for elements to add to your visualizations. These can include coming up with your own real or imagined indoor or outdoor place of quiet and tranquility, or seeing yourself enjoying a plane ride or a walk in your local park, free from fear or anxiety.

Receptive visualization means using whatever images come to mind, as in the case of envisioning your spiritual “guide” (a common visualization exercise) or seeking the solution to a problem.