Stress is a part and parcel of life in today's busy



lifestyles.You can ask any body and they will be

feeling stress in some part of their life and because

we can't get away from stressful situations, we

need to learn some ways to control stress and

feel relaxed. Living with continuous stress can

lead to chronic health problems. So, we are

going to take a look at some simple but very

effective stress relievers.

Breathing exercises for basic stress relief

Long and deep breathing is one of the basic stress relievers.

It helps to supply more oxygen to the blood stream which

helps to calm and relax the mind. The best way to do breathing

exercises is to sit in a quiet place and inhale very slowly,

hold for a moment and then exhale slowly. Doing this for

even a few moments will help you to feel calm and relaxed

and these can be performed virtually anywhere.

Meditation the ideal stress reliever

Breathing exercises combined with meditation is the

ideal stress reliever. Sit in a relaxed pose, close your eyes and

try and imagine that you are sitting at a place where you felt

the most relaxed. It could be a scene from a holiday that you

enjoyed or your favourite spot on a beach. At the same

time inhale deeply and then slowly exhale. Do this for a

few minutes, trying to drive your thoughts away from the

source of your stress and you will gain a feeling of relaxation

and calmness.

Yoga the best stress reliever of all

In the East Yoga has been practised for many centuries because

of it's contribution to the general well being for both the body

and mind. It is best recommended that you learn basic Yoga

exercises from a qualified instructor, but you can also

purchase books and DVD's which can also teach you a lot of

Yoga exercises.

Yoga teaches very effective stress relief techniques like,

breathing, meditation and movement. The benefits of Yoga are

that it strengthens the mind as well as the body. The benefits

that you gain from Yoga are longer lasting and this is why

it's considered the best amongst all the stress relievers.

Exercise can also be a stress reliever

Generally we exercise only to lose weight or become

physically fit. However, many people don't realize that exercise

is also a good stress reliever. You could go to the gym,

go swimming, cycling etc. or even go for a brisk walk.

When we are exercising, our mind is naturally taken away

from any stressful thoughts because we have to concentrate

on the task at hand and this can help to reduce stress levels.

Exercise also helps us to look and feel more attractive which raises

our self esteem and if we are feeling good about ourselves,

the chances are that we are going to feel more relaxed.

Muscle relaxation

Muscle relaxation is another very simple stress reliever that can

be practiced anywhere. To practice muscle relaxation,

you go through every major muscle group in your body and

flex it tight for a few moments and then release.

For example, you tighten your facial muscles and release.

By doing this with all the muscles it will help you to feel

relaxed. The major plus point of this technique is that it can

be done anywhere, even while you are sitting at your desk at work.

By following any one or more of the stress reliever

methods explained above, we can help ourselves fight

stress and lead a calm and contented life, no matter how

busy a life style we have. To gain the most benefits, be sure

to practice these exercises on a regular basis.