Stressed OUT? ……. Stretch OUT! – 2

Want something even simpler? Take a deep breath. Deep breathing is another great way to relieve stress. When we feel stressed, our breathing becomes shallow. Research has shown that people unable to manage stress effectively breathe higher and higher in the chest cavity, making it more difficult ot get the oxygen they need. If breathing is shallow, the body manufactures more carbon dioxide than it is able to expel. Deep breathing counteracts this.

What about creative visualization? When you are stressed, you worry. Visualize your self in different surroundings. If you feel the pressure of work, imagine yourself in control. Imagine yourself sailing smoothly from one appointment to another, meeting deadlines with a lot to spare, and your life will be virtually stress-free. If this techniques fail, there’s always the age-old arts; massage, yoga and acupressure.

Massage, probably the most popular of the three, helps reduced the amount of stress we feel as a result of tense situations at home or at work. It can induce actual physical relaxation, improve circulation and promote a sense of well-being. And a massage feels good and costs nothing if you and your spouse can learn to do it for each other. A massage can be given on a firm surface like a table or on the floor, but never on a bed, which is too soft. Use oil, powder, lotion or a combination.