Between the holidays and the start of a new year, there's a lot going on (what else is new?). That makes taking a moment to stop and relax sometimes challenging. Instead of tossing down a ton of cash for a day at the spa, treat yourself to a bit of free zen. You might be surprised at how easy it is to turn your frown upside down without spending any cash. Click through for a collection of savvy ways to treat yourself to some much-needed relaxation.
If you're trying to block out sounds at work and don't have soothing songs on your music player, there are plenty of super-zen YouTube videos that will relax you in a heartbeat. What's awesome about these videos is that some of them are more than an hour long and there are no interruptions — it's just one continuous track.
To look for these videos, simply search "relaxing music" or "study music" in YouTube and you'll immediately see a number of videos that will suit your taste. There are even videos that go for over eight hours!
The relaxing videos include chill beachy-type songs, nature sounds, and classical music. Some even have really soothing graphics you can gaze into like the ripples of an ocean wave. Perfect for watching and listening when you're stressed out at work and need a break.
One of my favorites is this zen-themed video below:
While the end of a yoga class should be the pinnacle of relaxation, sometimes getting into Savasana (Corpse pose) can be a bigger stretch for your mind than any pretzel-like shape for your body. I'm a big believer that no matter what, you should stay quiet on your mat and not leave the room, but I know firsthand how tricky getting your mind to simply hang out can be in the beginning. Whether you have a consistent practice or you're a newbie to the final relaxation pose, here are four tips to take to your heart before you lie down and sink into Savasana.
Keep reading for two more ways to chill out completely in Savasana.
Quiet the mind. Slow down your breath. Awaken your chakras. It's time to meditate! I'll be the first one to admit that I used to be like Ms. Paltrow, in that I didn't have the slightest idea how to meditate. I would dim the lights, make sure the apartment was quiet, and try to focus on my breath. Problem was, I was so focused on "conquering meditation" that my mind couldn't relax and just "be." After hearing about all the health perks associated with meditation — including stress reduction, a heightened self awareness, and being able to tune out distractions — I knew I couldn't give up. The good news is, I realized that there are many different types of meditation. This is key, because once you explore the various meditation styles, you can choose one that suits you best.
Now that you have the long weekend ahead of you, you should take some time to invigorate yourself over the holiday. If work has been getting to you, consider and explore these four alternative treatments.
Energy drinks have created quite a buzz over the last few years, but as it turns out, energy drinks have a little competition from the chill-out section. According to Lynn Dornblaser, from the global consumer product and market research company Mintel, relaxation drinks are the new trendy bevvie. The majority of the US population is stressed out, so people have been turning to drinks claiming to offer relaxation perks.
That's right, more than 70 of these kinds of stress-reducing drinks — including Be Happy, Unwind, and iChill — have debuted in the past three years. Active ingredients include everything from melatonin, a sleep inducing hormone, to amino acids, which is thought to reduce stress. But the effects of the drinks are highly subjective and not thoroughly researched.
One international food and drink consulting firm projected the growth rate for this new group of drinks in 2011 alone is a staggering 38 percent. I'll be sticking to my herbal teas and deep breathing techniques to reduce my stress levels. What about you?
Have you experienced the positive benefits of meditation? A new study that looked at 18 healthy young adults who had never meditated before found that with just 20-minute instructional sessions in mindfulness meditation, there was a significant reduction in pain when subjects were exposed to painful stimuli.
I already knew that regular meditation has been shown to have significant therapeutic effects on people at high risk for heart attacks, but these new findings are really profound because they are applicable to everyone!
According to researcher Fadel Zeidan, PhD, who is a postdoctoral fellow at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and also worked on the study, meditation may be useful for the management of postoperative pain since it distracts the mind and reduces the emotional response to pain. Zeidan says a wandering mind is normal at first and that you simply have to bring your consciousness back to your breathing.
Here are a few helping pointers for starting the meditation process.
I'll admit it: I love washing my face. Whether it's after a long day or a long night, coming back to my sink with a bottle of cleansing oil is one of the fastest ways to make me feel relaxed and clean. My roommate Sarah, on the other hand, always feels better once she's put on some mascara and curled her lashes. Fellow Bella Jaime adores a good, relaxing bath, and another friend always swipes on lipstick when she feels low. What beauty ritual makes you the happiest?
Busy schedules sometimes require some forced relaxation. Enter Do Nothing For 2 Minutes, a site that forces its users to literally do nothing for two minutes. Listen to the sound of ocean waves, take a break — just don't touch your mouse or keyboard or you'll get a nasty red FAIL message. And no one wants to fail.
After two minutes (there's a countdown), you're rewarded with a "well done" message. It's a simple site with a simple purpose, but a welcome moment of relaxation in an otherwise hectic day. I've been listening to the wave sounds for the last hour, and even that helps — give it a try!
Stressed out? Grab a pen or pencil and some paper, and do this relaxation exercise from the OnSugar blog goddessbody.
I call this exercise the Phone Cord (before the cell phone and cordless phone). It promotes calmness and relaxation and relieves inner tension. It also helps improve balance and coordination.
Learn how to do this easy exercise when you read more
