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!