I know it’s a silly question. We all have stress. Its source can
be positive or negative and it helps us to meet the challenges
we face in life. If you balance stress with relaxation you can
avoid a myriad of health problems from tension headaches and
skin irritations to heart disease and stomach problems. This
balance can also help to lessen any health conditions you
already have.
Throughout time many methods of relaxation have been practiced:
acupuncture, prayer, hypnosis, massage (my personal favorite!)
and meditation to name a few. Exercise is undeniably a very
effective method of relaxation.
“What? I wouldn’t call that Stairmaster workout relaxing!” I can
hear you saying. But think back and you likely remember feeling
refreshed after your workout and yes, even relaxed. It makes
sense. Most relaxation techniques focus on breathing. Exercise
produces a rhythm of breathing which can divert attention from
the stress that disrupted your breathing pattern. Voila –
relaxation!
Find an activity that you enjoy. Your colleague may insist yoga
is best for relaxation but if you find it more stressful than
relaxing to hold those poses, forget it. Think of the concept of
play or what best suits your personality. For me rollerblading
on the beach is the most fun activity I can think of – I finish
relaxed and with a big smile on my face. If you find running a
10K relaxing or T’ai Chi is your thing, great. The more
enjoyable the exercise, the more effective. But whatever you do,
just do it!