Have you ever noticed if your abdomen carries tension? If so, how does it affect your body? How’s your digestion? How’s your level of anger?

It’s obvious to me, from the work I do at the Chopra Center, that a lot of people carry stress in their gut. If you or someone you love is one of those people, here’s something simple you can enjoy at home that will relax the muscles and organs of the abdomen, and bring more balance to your whole being as a result.

Supplies needed:

• 1-2 tsp. oil (any kind of massage blend, or even olive oil from your kitchen)
• 1 drop lavender essential oil (available at any health food store)
• Hot water bottle or an old sock filled with uncooked rice (or flaxseeds)
• An old towel or piece of cloth that you don’t mind getting oily
• Optional: some hot chamomile or peppermint tea

Make a cup of chamomile or peppermint tea and set aside, but keep it within reach. Fill your hot water bottle with hot water. Alternately, fill an old sock (a large one) with uncooked rice or flaxseeds, tie off the end into a knot, and heat in the microwave.

Try heating for a minute, and see if that’s hot enough. It will depend on how much rice or flax seeds you have in the sock.

Add the drop of lavender essential oil to the massage oil. Lavender’s been used for centuries as a comforting abdominal tonic – for babies, pregnant women, children, women with menstrual cramps, upset stomachs - you name it.

If you don’t have lavender oil, you can still do the treatment. Your body will still benefit from the love and attention you give it.

Lie down comfortably on your back and rub the oil into your abdomen with long soothing strokes. It’s nice to do a circular pattern, flowing in the same direction as your digestion flows through your large intestine.

So start on your right side by the hip bone, work across the upper abdomen to the other hip bone, (moving under the ribs but above the navel), and then work back across the lower abdomen, (under the navel and above the pubic bone). Keep going around and around, rubbing the lavender oil into the pores of the skin.

You can rub your belly as long as you like (30 to 60 seconds is fine). When finished, place the hot water bottle (or hot sock) on the old towel and place over your lower abdomen (under the navel & above the pubic bone).

Close your eyes and relax for at least five minutes, sipping some warm chamomile or peppermint tea. Afterward, you’ll feel calm and centered.