StressRelieving Techniques for a Balanced and Healthy Life

Stress is an inescapable part of life and everyone processes it differently. Nevertheless, learning stress management techniques is vital for leading a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Some sources of stress are unavoidable, such as death of a loved one or economic crisis. In these cases, trying to reduce the stress by accepting what is happening may be helpful.

1. Exercise

Physical activity produces mood-boosting endorphins and improves blood flow. It also helps regulate sleep patterns, which is often affected by stress.

Other calming activities include social support, such as talking to friends and family members, and seeking professional help from a mental health professional. It’s also helpful to avoid things that trigger stress, such as the evening news and overindulging in unhealthy foods.

2. Meditation

Meditation reduces chronic inflammation that can lead to heart disease, cancer, asthma, autoimmune diseases and many other health problems. It can also improve mood, boost immunity and help with depression.

There are several types of meditation, but most practices involve sitting quietly and focusing on your breath or repeating a mantra. You can also meditate while walking or doing other activities.

3. Yoga

A 2019 study found that yoga can help improve balance in healthy adults. This is due to increased flexibility and decreased fall risk.

Yoga may also ease constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and even lower your risk for colon cancer. It encourages deep breathing, which is soothing and oxygenating to the lungs. In fact, one study linked yogic breathing with reduced systolic blood pressure.

4. Relaxation Techniques

Taking time to relax can make a difference in your overall well-being. Whether you struggle with anxiety or just need some downtime, relaxation techniques may help.

These include progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), autogenic training, and guided imagery. They can be taught by complementary and integrative health specialists and mental health providers or learned through self-help modalities. They are meant to complement, not replace, usual medical care.

5. Yoga Nidra

Yoga nidra, also called “yogic sleep,” is a guided meditation technique. In a study, 75 female patients with menstrual irregularities who used yoga nidra showed rebalancing of hormone levels.

First, practitioners lie supine and close their eyes. Then they are instructed to rotate their consciousness through the annamaya kosha (physical body). They become aware of sensory input and emotions and connect with archetypal imagery.

6. Deep Breathing

Deep breathing stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system and activates your body’s relaxation response, lowering stress hormones and calming the mind. It can also improve sleep and reduce pain.

To practice deep breathing, sit in a comfortable position and focus on diaphragmatic breathing. Try to match your inhale with your exhale, slowly increasing how long you can breathe in and out.

7. Relaxing Music

Music has a positive impact on our mood and can ease the symptoms of stress. It can be used to connect with others and create a calming environment.

Relaxing music can reduce our heart rate and blood pressure, as well as lower levels of cortisol. It can also help us sleep better.

The type of relaxing music we listen to depends on our personal preferences. For example, light jazz or classical music tend to be most effective at reducing stress.

8. Aromatherapy

Stress is a part of life and it’s important to know how to deal with it in healthy ways. Being mindful and implementing relaxation techniques can help to reduce stress levels and promote wellness.

Aromatherapy uses the power of scent to relax the mind and body. Essential oils are extracted from flowers, herbs, trees and their parts like bark, roots, rinds, peels and petals.

9. Meditation

Meditation can lower your stress levels, improve sleep and help you focus. It can also reduce pain and boost your immune system.

Regular meditation helps people control their blood pressure and reduces inflammation that flares auto-immune diseases like psoriasis, coeliac disease and arthritis. Meditation may also promote healthy aging by reducing the production of inflammatory compounds.

However, meditation should not be used as a replacement for proper treatment of any medical condition you may have.

10. Yoga

Yoga unites the body and mind, and focuses on breathing techniques that help reduce stress. It also helps relieve gastrointestinal problems like constipation, which is often made worse by stress and may contribute to chronic health conditions like high blood pressure and irritable bowel syndrome.

Yoga has been shown to improve balance. However, studies of this type have been small and varied in quality.