Time-Tested Stress Relief Methods

Stress has become one of the leading causes of many illnesses. Fortunately, there are many time-tested stress relief methods that one can try. Yoga is one of the ancient stress relief methods that has been practiced for five centuries in India and is used for the relaxation of both the mind and the body. There are 8 components in traditional yoga but for stress relief, only the following 3 components are used – Asanas, Pranayama and meditation.

Asanas or postures enable the energy to flow freely in and out of a person’s body to promote normal body functions and release muscle tension. Pranayama when literally translated means control of life so during pranayama, the person focuses on controlling breathing. When the first two components are properly done, the person becomes ready for meditation, which draws the mind away from the stress factors and brings into a relaxed state.

One of the most commonly used stress relief methods is aromatherapy. If you go to spas then you must be familiar with this. In aromatherapy, a person inhales natural essential oils extracted from plants, herbs and flowers to reduce stress. Aromatherapy works by stimulating the Olfactory nerve, which is connected to the limbic system, the part of the brain that regulates emotions. The scents inhaled will stimulate the limbic system to produce the mood-stabilizing hormones serotonin and endorphin.

Some of the typically used essential oils used for stress reduction include chamomile, lavender, orange, lemon, clary sage, sandal wood, cedar wood and jasmine. These aromatic oils can be used individually or blended together. Inhalation is the best way to obtain the benefits of these oils but they can also be massaged onto the skin, diffused in a room spray, added to baths or used as a perfume.

The therapeutic benefits of water has long been proven making hydrotherapy one of the oldest stress relief methods today. The different types of hydrotherapy include whole body baths, foot baths, sitz baths and steam baths. The most effective of these four in stress relief is the whole body bath. Immerse yourself in shoulder deep water that should be about 95 degrees F warm for at least 30 minutes to get the best relaxation effect. You can use plain water or mix your bath water with essential oils.

Deep breathing is the simplest of any stress relief methods. The concept behind this technique is that the adverse effects of stress result from toxins in the body and inadequate supply of oxygen. By taking deep breaths, the amount of oxygen that will enter the body and the amount of carbon dioxide leaving the body will both increase, resulting to stress relief.

Proper deep breathing starts with sitting with your back straight and then taking a deep breath, making sure that the movement centers on the abdomen and not the chest. Do this for 30 minutes.

Other stress relief methods proven to alleviate stress include meditation, biofeedback method, progressive muscle relaxation and music therapy.