| Nothing is permanent in this world except change. | | | | through yoga. As you work through the various |
| And since any sort of change causes stress, then, | | | | poses, you must focus on inhaling and exhaling. |
| people should just accept that stress is a fact of | | | | Breath concentration is yoga's key to stress relief |
| life that we all have to live with. But what | | | | management. With this focus, you let go of |
| exactly is stress? Stress is a psychological and | | | | external thoughts and anxiety. |
| physiological response to events that upset our | | | | Most adults go for a full-body massage, not only |
| personal balance in some way. There is good | | | | for pleasure, but for its stress relief benefits. |
| stress and bad stress. Good stress gives you the | | | | According to the American Massage Therapy |
| motivation to do your best when cramming for | | | | Association (AMTA), 39 million Americans had at |
| exams, or preparing for a job presentation. | | | | least one massage in 2006. That's approximately |
| However, when things get out of hand and life's | | | | one in six adults getting the health benefits of |
| demands exceed your ability to cope, stress | | | | massage therapy for stress relief. |
| becomes bad for your physical, emotional and | | | | Massage therapy can be effective for a variety |
| psychological well-being. | | | | of conditions, including arthritis, lower back pain, |
| You can feel the tension caused by stress in your | | | | insomnia, headaches, anxiety, circulatory problems, |
| shoulders and neck, as well as heart-pounding in | | | | and recovery from a sports injury. Good coping |
| the chest. You lose sleep, feel depressed, and get | | | | skills were associated with better levels of the |
| tired. When stress becomes long-term, it | | | | so-called "good" cholesterol or high-density |
| increases your risk for heart disease, mental | | | | lipoprotein (HDL). The better a person copes with |
| distress, and weight gain. | | | | stress, the better chances there are of attaining a |
| Having a regular fitness regimen is a good stress | | | | "good" cholesterol level. Stress and hostility |
| relief practice. Enjoying a walk in the park is one | | | | affect a person's cholesterol levels. |
| way to reduce stress. Sometimes, just learning to | | | | Other research found that "avoidance" coping, |
| accept what you cannot change can help ease | | | | such as blaming oneself, is unhealthy and related |
| the burden of stress. Meditation and yoga are | | | | to hostility and anger. Both are related to blood |
| two stress relief techniques that help train your | | | | pressure elevation and lower HDL. Hostility is also |
| body to relieve stress. | | | | associated with higher blood glucose levels in |
| Meditation is an ancient practice that has gained | | | | healthy people and in diabetics, which raises the |
| worldwide acceptance even in modern times. As a | | | | risk of heart disease. Hostile people use |
| stress relief technique, meditation has the ability | | | | emotion-focused coping like anger and avoidance |
| to produce relaxation response that helps reduce | | | | instead of problem solving. |
| blood pressure, lift depression, and ease stress. | | | | So, if your hectic lifestyle seems to take its toll in |
| Another ancient practice that reduces stress and | | | | your physical, emotional and psychological |
| tension is yoga. It can lower blood pressure and | | | | well-being, stress relief techniques can bring you |
| levels of stress hormone called cortisol. You also | | | | life back into balance. |
| boost flexibility, strength, endurance, and balance | | | | |