Stressed-Out? Six Steps For Learning How to Relax

With the stress-heavy lives people live, there is always something going on that demands immediate attention. Maybe you have a report that needs to be finished for work, or your kids need a ride to their soccer game or you have to squeeze in a dentist appointment on your lunch hour. Whatever the case may be, it is important for all people to relax every once in a while. Stress has many harmful side effects if it is allowed to build up. Here are some helpful tips you can use to relax at various times during the day:

1. Meditation
People have been meditating as a way to relax since the beginning of recorded history. That pretty much tells you that it is a very effective stress reliever. Along with helping you relax, meditation has been shown to reduce depression and stress. Sit in a quiet place, close your eyes, focus on your breathing and watch your worries fade away.

2. Massage
If you have never received a massage before, you don’t know what you are missing. There are many different types of massage, so you will need to do some research to see which one appeals the most to you. Head and scalp massages are often overlooked when people get a professional massage, but these are great when it comes to relaxation.

3. Yoga
Yoga is an excellent relaxation method that dates back thousands of years. Yoga involves various poses called asanas that you need to hold for certain periods of time. Breathing is focused on heavily during yoga routines. Relaxation is only one benefit of yoga—it’s also been shown to increase your flexibility and strength, depending on the poses you choose. A yoga practitioner with an online psychology degree recommends yoga for anyone with chronic anxiety, as a way of reducing cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol, when released, stimulates the “fight or flight” response, resulting in anxious feelings and restlessness. Yoga, which forces your body to relax and move deliberately, negates this response.

4. Be Creative
Painting or playing a musical instrument has an amazing ability to calm people down and make them temporarily forget their problems. If you have a difficult time relaxing and clearing your mind, don’t worry, the important thing is that you are enjoying what you are doing. Most people find that if they get involved enough in a creative endeavor, they tend to forget all about the sources of stress in their lives.

5. Aromatherapy
This method of relaxation is quick and simple, using fragrant oils with medicinal qualities to relax the body. It takes hardly any time at all to put some essential oils, such as tea tree or lavender, on the back of your hand. Once the oil has been placed, the scent can be with you all day, calming both mind and body.

6. Acupressure
This is an ancient technique that has been used in India and China for thousands of years. If you apply pressure to various parts of the body, you will feel more relaxed. Do some research and consult acupressure charts to see which areas of the body will benefit the most from treatment.

 

*Our content is not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis of individual problems or circumstances, nor should it be implied that we are a substitute for professional medical advice. Users / readers are always advised to consult their Healthcare Professional prior to starting any new remedy, therapy or treatment. Your Wellness Group accepts no liability in the event you, a user of n-gage and a reader of this article, suffers a loss as a result of reliance upon or inappropriate application of the information.

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