By relaxing and focusing on warming your hands, you can raise your hand temperature as much as 20°F/11°C in five minutes. The result of hand warming is usually a deep state of relaxation or one of the altered states of consciousness experienced in meditation. It is an effective stress reducer and can be used in the control of migraine headaches. It helps the body to carry out its self-repair.

Sit in a relaxed position. Place your hands on your lap, palms facing up, fingers relaxed.

Begin to slowly say to yourself: "My hands are getting warmer."

Repeat five to ten times or more, maintaining a relaxed mood. Three to five minutes of focused attention will generally start to yield results.

Combine the repetition of the words with a mental picture that suggests warm hands. For instance, see your hands being bathed in warm water; imagine that you are holding your hands up to the sun; visualize someone rubbing your hands to encourage circulation; see rivers of warm energy flowing from the trunk of your body into your hands. In your mind's eye, surround your hands with a glowing yellow light. Feel them getting gradually warmer (see more on this approach in the biofeedback portion of the Section Wellness and Thinking)

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