Stress: Strategies for Dealing with Stress

By Michele Blandino

At one time or another, we all feel the effects of stress. Whether caused by job pressures, health concerns, or simply a busy lifestyle, stress creeps into our lives and often leaves an array of physical and emotional problems in its wake.

In some extreme cases, professional intervention is needed to eliminate the effects of stress, but for most of us, some simple relaxation techniques are all that is needed to help minimize the impact to our minds and bodies. Here is a look at some of the common, and not so common, techniques you can use to combat stress:

Yoga

Yoga, which means union has its roots in India and has been practiced for more than 5,000 years. Yoga practitioners focus on three dimensions: postures or asanas, breathing exercises referred to as pranayama and meditation. Known more as a spiritual form of exercise, yoga emphasizes awareness more than the completion of a certain number of repetitions, as is the case in more traditional forms of exercise. In simple terms, yoga creates a mind-body connection that helps foster relaxation and mental clarity. You can learn yoga in a private studio, through the use of instructional videos or DVDs or in a community setting such as a YMCA.

T’ai chi

T’ai chi is a form of martial arts that is based on the Taoist principle of yielding. The goal of T’ai chi is to foster a calm and tranquil mind through the precise execution of specific exercises. It combines aspects of meditation, physical exercise, visualization and martial arts into specific exercises, or forms, and has not only helped people effectively deal with stress, but also to improve balance, coordination and fine motor skills.

The Alexander Technique

The Alexander Technique is a stress reduction technique that teaches its followers methods for eliminating tension from the body. Developed in the late 19th century by Frederick Mathias Alexander, the Alexander method focuses on whole body movements in an attempt to isolate movements that contribute to excess muscle tension. The basic premise behind the technique is that the removal of stress from the body will give the person the ability to better deal with stressful situations.

Transcendental Meditation

Transcendental Meditation - or TM – was first introduced to the United States in the late 1960s by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It attacks stress by teaching its followers to simply “let go”. Followers of TM choose a “mantra” or word that they associate with peace and, in sessions that typically last about 20 minutes, they sit quietly and use that mantra to bring their consciousness to a place of peace and serenity.

Reflexology

The art of Reflexology is based upon the belief that there are reflexes in the hands and feet that correspond to every part of the body. By directing pressure to these points, circulation is improved and specific bodily and muscular functions are promoted. How effective is Reflexology in alleviating stress? According to one British study, noticeable physical and emotional benefits were realized after eight weeks of treatment.