Natural Ways to Boost Energy

"Learning how to inhale completely and how to exhale completely is one of the best energizers," says Dr. Laurel Clark, president of the School of Metaphysics in Windyville, Missouri.

Next time you need a quick pick-me-up, try this simple exercise from Dr. Clark: Sit with your spine straight, eyes closed. Focus your attention on your breath, and slowly inhale to a count of 6. Hold your breath to a count of 3 and tense all of the muscles in your body. Exhale for a count of 6, completely releasing all of the breath, relaxing the muscles as you do so. Hold the breath out to a count of 3. Repeat this slow rhythmic count—inhaling, hold and tense, exhaling and relax, hold the breath out.

"After a while, you can cease tensing and relaxing the muscles and just focus on the slow rhythmic breath," Dr. Clark says.