Managing Stress in the 21st Century
by Teri Hamilton-Mickens
Stress is an integral part of everyday life, and it represents the way we emotionally, physically and mentally, react to different . The pace of modern life, pressures in the workplace and all the demands of life in a continually changing world, make this an age of “stress”. Stress affects the body, lowers the immune system, slows body function and can lead to serious physical, mental or emotional imbalanc
es. Stress can be the number one cause for many of the issues that you are having, including things such as, weight gain, anxiety, depression and pain throughout your body. However, if managed correctly, stress can be used to create a positive experience through excitement, increased energy, clarity of thought and creativity. Stress management includes a variety of techniques that encourage relaxation and decrease her/his stress hormone levels. Yoga, aromatherapy and meditation are some of the ways stress can be managed. Yoga Yoga can be effective in tackling stress. Yoga is a Sanskrit term which means 'Union' or 'Harmony'. It is an ancient practice of controlling body and mind which originated in India a few thousand years ago. This ancient technique and forgotten therapy is being revived in this modern era. Yoga in stress management provides relief by making the body comfortable for the maximum flow of energy. It unites the mind, body and spirit. Yoga requires you to stretch the body and form various poses, all while keeping your breathing slow and controlled. There are many forms of yoga. Yoga can be a spiritual practice, an exercise or both. Most people that practice yoga agree that it creates a feeling of wholeness and inner peace. Though it takes time to perfect, its benefits make it a worthwhile time investment.
Aromatherapy Aromatherapy is basically the introduction of specific scents, with the purpose of creating a reaction, generally one of relaxation. Aromatherapy is a natural healing science employing essential oils extracted from aromatic plant sources to treat and balance the body, mind and spirit. It has been used for quite sometime now to relieve people from the stress they are feeling. Aromatherapy is a widely acknowledged and effective method to treat stress and is another great way to relieve the stress in your lives, whether work related, or otherwise. The essential oils used in aromatherapy can be added to baths, massaged through the skin, inhaled directly or scented in a room. A new innovation is small aromatherapy diffusers that can be attached to your computer monitor or laptop (and so doesn’t take up desk space or require an electric socket) and releases aroma only into your personal space for natural stress relief. These extracts are also sold in teas for consumption. Whether it really is soothing to the nervous system or works because of a placebo effect, no one really knows for sure. But for many, if not all, individuals, aromatherapy does aid in calming a person down and reducing stress. Some common scented oils associated with relaxation are lavender, rose and sandalwood.
Meditation Meditation has the exact opposite affect on the body as stress. When practicing meditation, your heart rate and breathing slow down, your blood pressure normalizes, you use oxygen more efficiently, and you sweat less. You will feel calmer, more relaxed and have a greater sense of well-being. Meditation helps you to feel less anxious about issues that previously caused you stress, and many benefits arise out of a calm state of mind. In a basic meditation, you would sit in a relaxed position and clear your mind by focusing on a sound, your own breathing or on nothing at all. This can be typically done in 5-20 minutes. Like yoga, meditation can be spiritual or secular. Meditation causes your body to produce and circulate more positive hormones and it enhances your immune function. Effective meditation requires time, patience and lots of practice but its benefits can be tremendous.
Nutrition Without proper nutrition, your body and mind cannot function properly. In our fast food world, we consume a lot of calories but rarely do we give our bodies all of the vitamins and minerals that we need. Corbin-Enterprises.com offers some of the best nutritional supplements available. When we take care of our basic nutrition needs, we are better equipped to deal with the stresses that we so often encounter.
About the Author
Teri Hamilton-Mickens has been involve with online services for more than 10 years. She is involved in many internet ventures. She sees Internet Marketing as the wave of the future and enjoys helping others get started in the business. Please visit her at http://www.winatwebmarketing.com