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!