FitSugar

Relax Already: With Soothing Music

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:00:35 -0700

Music has the power to soothe the soul. So even on days when you forget to set your alarm clock, accidentally wash your cellphone in the laundry, or get home from work and immediately step in your cat's throw-up, hearing some calming melodies is sure to clear your mind of the day's troubles. Here are some of my favorite tranquil tunes, so you can listen while taking a bath, sipping a cup of hot tea or doing some gentle stretching.

To hear this soothing playlist keep reading

Relax Already: Try Reiki

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:30:36 -0700

After being laid off and collecting unemployment for a few weeks, an amazing career opportunity has just fallen into your lap, and you have a job interview tomorrow. Needless to say, you're anxious and stressed, and it's nothing a hot bath or cup of tea can handle. A Reiki session could be just the thing to calm your nerves and release tension from your tight muscles. Reiki is a type of Japanese healing therapy. The word Reiki translates to "spiritually guided life force energy." It's based on the idea that life force energy flows through us and around us (our aura), and it's what nourishes our organs and cells. When the flow of energy is disrupted, that's when emotional and physical issues arise.

A Reiki treatment feels somewhat like getting a massage, although there is minimal touching if any at all. As you lie on a comfy table, the practitioner will place her hands on various areas of your body, but often holds the hands a few centimeters above the body. The hands are kept still for a few minutes before moving to the next position, usually involving the head, front and back of the torso, knees and feet. A session usually lasts about an hour or an hour and a half.

I know it doesn't seem like much is going on, but Reiki practitioners are believed to have the ability and intuition to balance a person's life force energy. Not only does a Reiki session completely relax you (like you've just slept for 12 hours straight), but it can also be used to heal the body. I've experienced Reiki when I broke my thumb, and I swear, it helped relieve my pain.

Have any of you ever tried Reiki?

Wikipedia

Relax Already: Get Out of Your Brain

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:30:25 -0700

Sometimes stress brings with it a never-ending tape loop of worries. Once the litany begins, it's hard to quiet it down. I find the best way to battle my tireless tape loop is to get out of my brain or change my focus. It is said that depression-prone women tend to ruminate over their problems, mentally picking them apart repeatedly. The best defense against rehashing the situation is to stimulate another part of your brain. Challenging exercises, be they multitasking moves or short and speedy interval workouts, are a great way to distract a busy brain and release some much-needed endorphins. Stop the worrying by saddling your brain with a creative project or try a new recipe. Engaging other parts of your gray matter is a great way to stop obsessing, and maybe you will even be able to solve your problem by letting it go for a bit.

Relax Already: Make a Cup of Tea

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:00:32 -0700

Stress is a common phenomenon of a hectic workday, when everything speeds up to an unmanageable pace. To help slow things down and relax a bit, brew a cup of tea. This simple action can create profound results. Unlike chugging an ice-cold drink, sipping something hot takes time and a bit of patience. A cup of herbal tea like chamomile, known for its relaxing qualities, can provide a moment of calm and help you recharge so you have energy to tackle the rest of your day.

Relax Already: Make a Gratitude List

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:00:00 -0700

A close friend of mine started a really charming tradition. Every morning she writes out a gratitude list and emails it to her friends and family. She sits down quietly with herself, and jots down all the things in her life that she is thankful for. It can be as deep as "I'm grateful for the love and openness I share with my husband," or something light and joyful like "I'm grateful for chocolate-covered strawberries." It not only makes you feel warm and fuzzy to concentrate on all the things that make you happy for few moments of your day, but it's also a wonderful way to relieve stress and forget about the not-so-joyful parts of your life. Keep your daily gratitude lists to yourself, or share them with others to inspire some calm and contentedness in their lives.

Relax Already: Swap Coffee For a Massage Break

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:15:34 -0700

I normally think of a massage as a relaxing treat that's more likely to put me to sleep than wake me up. But the other day, a massage taught me a lesson. Craving an afternoon caffeine fix, I instead ducked into a place near my office that does chair massages.

After a vigorous, 10-minute back, neck, and hand massage, I actually felt more awake. Better yet, my arms and upper back were tension-free, and I felt reinvigorated. Next time you're in need of an afternoon pick-me-up, why not try the same tactic? The key is keeping the massage quick, targeted, and therapeutic, rather than long and relaxing. I think you'll be surprised how much it perks you up from the afternoon slump.

Relax Already: Chill Out Like Heather Graham

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0700

Feeling stressed and frazzled can take a toll on your happiness and overall well-being. Heather Graham makes time in her busy schedule to reconnect with her center every day through transcendental meditation. Director David Lynch turned her on to the technique, which involves repeating a mantra to quiet the mind.

The Hangover star practices this type of meditation because, "It balances you out – it makes you feel a lot less stressed." She complements her daily meditative sessions with yoga, and says that she's "really obsessed" with it for its ability to affect the mental and physical.

Although meditation is a one-woman activity, it can be difficult to get started. If you need a little help getting into the art of quieting your mind, check out my tips on where to begin. Do you meditate?

Relax Already: Make a List

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:08:43 -0700

Are you a list maker? If not, you should give the simple act of writing it all down a whirl. When your mind is jumbled with lists of tasks, it is hard to relax and be in the moment. But writing all those to-dos down can clear your mind, so you can get to the task at hand. Seeing all your chores listed out can help you brainstorm on how to actually accomplish the goals you have set out to achieve. Don't underestimate the power of crossing a finished task off the list. Putting that slash through some cumbersome chore can really give you a sense of pride. When you feel like you haven't done anything for the day, you can refer to your list and see all that you have done. Do you keep to-do lists?

Relax Already: Create a De-Stress Routine

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0700

If you have just survived another manic Monday, it is time to de-stress. Just like a morning ritual helps you wake up on the right side of the bed, a relaxing, postwork routine can help you unwind in the evening. Your ritual can be as simple as changing your clothes, stowing your briefcase in your bedroom closet, or washing your face. Preferably your ritual should be something healthier than pouring yourself a stiff drink. These small acts can help put a period on the end of your workday so you can get to the tasks at hand, like cooking a healthy dinner, taking your pooch for a long walk, or teaching your wee ones how to bike. Do you have a routine to help you chill out at the end of your workday? Do share.

Source

Relax Already: Make Your Own Citrus-Mint Sugar Scrub

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0700

Indulging in a hot shower or bath is one of my favorite ways to reduce stress. Couple it with a sugar scrub, and it's just as good as a full-body massage - well, almost). Why buy a sugar scrub, when it's so easy to make your own?

Here's a recipe that incorporates the summery scent of citrus. To see it read more.

You'll need:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup sweet almond oil
1 teaspoon fresh tangerine juice
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon fresh grapefruit juice
3 to 5 drops of peppermint oil

Mix the sugar and almond oil first. Then add the juices. Lastly, mix in the peppermint oil. Store in a sealed container.

If citrus isn't your favorite scent, try this recipe for Brown Sugar Body Scrub. Not only will a sugar scrub relieve tension, but it's also a gentle way to exfoliate dead skins cells from your body.