For the large majority of us, stress, tension, and chaos seem to be part of daily life. As each new year flies by and we enter new life phases, we face increasingly more complicated challenges. Be it our jobs, our relationships, our finances, our health, or simply the holidays - the triggers for anxiety and distress sometimes feel endless. But don’t worry, you are not alone. Believe it or not, there is still hope for a world of peace and stress free (or at least stress reduced) living.
How you may ask? Well first take a deep breath and hold for a count of three, then exhale slowly, and repeat that 4-5 times. It may feel a little silly at first but “conscious breathing” is a great, easy way to help refocus your mind and allow yourself to imagine all the tension leaving your body with each exhale. Do this anytime you start feeling the pressure of stress weighing you down. While the changes might be subtle at first, with continued practice peace and calm are just a few breaths away.
Next, get your body in motion. Stress and anxiety can zap the energy right out of you before you know it. Even worse when tension builds, we find ourselves depriving our bodies from that much needed movement because we are “too busy”. Our workout routines go out the window and a vicious circle begins that only creates a whole new set of problems to pile on top of the old. Physical activity forces us to focus on our movement, our breathing and helps us feel rejuvenated and more at peace.
Lastly, make massage a regular part of your pursuit towards peace. While massage therapy is most often associated with therapeutic healing of a physical injury, massage is also a rejuvenating and relaxing activity for our mental state of mind. Massage increases circulation helps to release the toxins that build up in our muscles due to exertion as well as stress and anxiety.
Massage delivers a sense of peace and mental quiet that works wonders when you are feeling frazzled, overworked, and drained. Too often people consider massage an indulgence to be enjoyed on rare occasions – however massage can and should be a daily part of our lives to help combat the effects of stress, and help us gain an enhanced mental state to deal with stressful challenges with more energy, and a more positive frame of mind.
