Last week on the Basic Life Blog, we learned how chronic stress damages your body–creating an environment that fosters disease and accelerates the aging process.
This week, I list its top six recommendations for ways to cope with, manage and diffuse stress to counteract the negative effects it has on the way you look, feel and behave.
Yoga
Who knows if the first yogis thousands of years ago suffered as much stress as we do in the modern age, but they sure were on to something! The benefits of this ancient art are too many to list, but among them are:
-oxygenation of the brain and body
-increased lymph flow and detoxification
-reduced joint and back pain
-quicker reaction time
-decreased in blood pressure, blood sugar, and stress hormones.
There’s no denying the peaceful yet energized feeling one gets after a good yoga practice. Yoga stretches and releases tendons and fascia. It encourages healing blood flow to your muscles and joints. It also gently manipulates your internal organs for more efficient function. On top of all of that, it can give you a strong, sexy body. The deep breathing alkalizes the body and some even believe yoga reverses aging!
Find out more about the benefits of yoga.
Nature Therapy
How do you feel at the cusp of dawn when all is quiet except the first birds singing? How about when you’re captivated by a glorious sunset that stops you in your tracks? Or what about that serene feeling that washes over you when listening to the waves crash at the beach? Then you’ve already experienced the stress-relieving power of Mother Nature.
Why exactly do we have a tendency to sink into a state of calm when we admire the beauty of nature? Perhaps it is because that is where we came from, or because it never fails to awe us. Whatever the reason, most probably do not get enough of it.
Many of us are cooped up indoors most of the day surrounded by concrete and artificial light. A quick stress-fix would be go to a nearby park and stroll around or bring a blanket to lay on and gaze at the clouds. A mere fifteen minutes can clear your mind and ground you. If you cannot escape your urban environment during the week, get out to a hiking or biking trail on the weekend. Then you will get the benefit of some exercise as well.
Meditation
Meditation reduces stress physically by slowing the heart and respiratory rate and focusing brain activity. Meditation also provides a gateway to confronting unresolved emotional issues, conquering fears, and neutralizing obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior.
Some methods involve simply sitting quietly and trying to clear the mind of all thoughts. Other meditation practices may use a series of visualizations to guide the subject into total relaxation. Binaural beats are good for beginners to quickly entrain the brainwaves into a deeper state.
Hydrotherapy
Nothing is faster to release tension in the body and mind then a few minutes in a hot tub. Just check out how quickly it works–from Spa Depot’s spa-cylcopedia.
- 5 minutes- your blood pressure and pulse rates may begin to drop.
- 8 minutes – your circulation improves in your hands and feet making them feel warmer.
- 12 minutes – your muscles relax, becoming more receptive to passive exercise. Tissues become more pliable and responsive to stretching, encouraging the release of lactic acid and other toxins from your system.
- 15 minutes – your minor aches and pains will often experience a temporary decrease in severity.
If you don’t have access to a Jacuzzi, a good old-fashioned hot bath can do wonders. The benefits of hydrotherapies have been used and understood for centuries. Add baking soda to your bath for an alkalizing effect.
Massage
Massage therapy is another ancient form of alternative medicine that has been used throughout the ages to treat stress and its harmful effects on our body and mind. Like the other stress-relieving methods above, massage therapy’s benefits are well documented and wide ranging. They include:
-Detoxification by increased lymph flow.
-Increased circulation.
-Relaxes tense muscles, ligaments and fascia.
-Releases those warm and fuzzy feel-good hormones that dissolve stress
Living an Alkaline Lifestyle
If you suffer from chronic stress, an alkaline diet and lifestyle can combat its harmful effects. Alkaline foods as well as drinking plenty of fresh alkaline water will help your body eliminate the toxins that accumulate from dealing with stress.
Though there have been many breakthroughs in modern medicine when it comes to stress, people have relied on these natural ways for thousands of years. So don’t let stress get the best of you!
What is your favorite healthy way of beating stress?
Please share with H2O Alkalizer below!
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The information in the Basic Life Blog is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your doctor.
Stress Free Zone Photo credit
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