E-mail: info@studio3-atlanta.com

To contact us:

studio 3

pilates | yoga | natural health™

Red & Black Daily Newspaper Archives

Ten ways to de-stress                                                                                         

Published , November 01, 2000, 01:00:01 AM EDT

You can't run.  You can't hide.  It knows your schedule and your habits.  It was there the night you crammed six chapters of information into your brain while stuffing doughnuts, coffee and cigarettes into your mouth.  It's not your mother -- it's stress.  And unlike Mom, unless she's a Power Ranger, stress has formidable morphing capabilities.

Stress manifests itself in the form of chronic headaches, heartburn and allergies.  It emerges as tension in our backs and clamminess on our hands.

It irritates our mental processes, making us anxious, depressed and moody.

Stress is by far the most common health problem today, so I have put together 10 ways to relieve stress and boost energy.  Don't rush this gradual process. Enjoy every step of the way!

• Stretch tension away.  I have found this to be the most immediate way to relieve stress, even if you only have a minute.  Remember some stretches from Pilates or yoga class (and don’t just do your favorites although that is a good place to start!) 

• Make your own prescription.  In this chaotic world, you need to learn to be your own doctor.  Prescribe for yourself a daily walk, a hot bath -- even a cold beer (keyword: a).

• Love your feet.  If eyes are windows to the soul, feet are the path to it.  When you're just sitting around, give yourself a foot rub.  Spread out your toes, flex and point your feet, and apply pressure to different areas in a circular motion.

• B vitamins can help to elevate your mood.  The Standard American Diet (SAD) lacks enough of them, so supplement with a B-complex vitamin.

• Get a dose of sunlight and fresh air.  Sunlight can increase your tolerance to stress by increasing cell energy levels.

• Untie the knot in your stomach.  Digestive problems, including stomach upset and heartburn, are among the first signs of stress. Raw foods contain enzymes that speed up the digestive process.  Eat them daily.

• Try Valerian to calm your nerves.  It is the premier herb for relaxation, without all of the side effects of sedatives.  When you are having trouble calming your nerves, take some Valerian in the form of a capsule or tincture.  Health and drug food stores carry it. I’ve found that the inexpensive brands work well.  Warning: this natural chill pill doubles as an aphrodisiac.

• Sleep it off.  Stress-filled days can lead to sleepless nights.  But a good night's rest is the most effective way for your body to cope with stress, so make it a priority.

• Get a little help from your friends.  In nurtured relationships, we are givers and takers.  Both are rewarding.

• Get lost.  Whether it's in a book or the boondocks outside of Athens, lose yourself for a while.  When you come back, you will have gained perspective.

Keep a sense of humor and be good to yourself.  Remember: “Worrying is as useful as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.”

-- Natalia Swetlowski is a variety columnist for The Red & Black.  The Student Body appears every other Wednesday.

health tip