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5 Inexpensive Ways to Relax

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:07:49 PST

Holidays stressing you out? Spa treatments and therapeutic massages are great ways to relax, but with all the gifts you're buying for those on your list, you might feel so guilty about spending the money on yourself that you skip the treatments altogether. During the high-stress time of the holiday season, many of us need relief now more than ever. Thankfully there are plenty of cheap and easy ways to relax and relieve the tension.

Source: Thinkstock

4 Desk Stretches to Relieve Neck and Shoulder Tension

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:25:41 PST

Sitting at a desk for hours on end, staring at your computer screen, and scrunching your shoulders as you type can create a stiff neck and tense shoulders, or even a headache. Take a break and do these four stretches at your desk to offer some stress relief.

Behind the Back Neck Stretch: offers a deep stretch in the sides of your neck

Sitting on the edge of a sturdy chair, reach both hands behind your pelvis, and hold onto your left wrist with your right hand. Use your right hand to gently straighten your left arm and pull it away from you slightly. To increase the stretch in your neck, slowly lower your right ear toward your shoulder.
Stay here for 30 seconds and then switch sides.

Keep reading to learn how to do three more tension-relieving stretches at your desk.

Simple Tips to Reduce Workday Stress

Michele Foley — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:16:46 PDT

Sometimes a "case of the Mondays" can follow us well into the work week. Looming deadlines, pressure from the boss, and a hectic day of meetings are enough to frazzle the calmest individual. Before you let stress take control of an otherwise productive workday, follow these tips for stopping stress before it takes full hold.

Eat yourself to calm: While fatty junk foods may seem like the cure to your hectic day, these indulgences will only have you experiencing the crash-and-burn effect of a sugar high. Instead of reaching for things like chips or candy, eat one of these healthy foods proven to fight stress. Good-for-you items like nuts, oranges, spinach, and fish all contain nutrients that will ward off workday pressures. If a sweet treat is the only way you'll be able to survive the day, choose dark chocolate. A recent study shows that eating a small amount of dark chocolate can reduce stress levels. Along these same lines, give yourself a break and eat lunch away from your desk. Getting out of the office may be just what you need to relax.
Schedule a lunchtime workout: An easy way to blow off steam during your workday is to exercise. If the idea of leaving work to hit the gym only causes stress levels to rise, follow these timesaving tips for a midday workout and check out this quick beauty routine for the locker room. Numerous studies have shown that exercise is a sure-fire way to boost endorphins. You'll return to work happier, calmer, and energized.

See the rest of the tips after the break!

From the Community: Yoga Equals Instant Stress Relief

Fit Community — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:16:56 PDT

FitSugar reader YogaGirlAli loves doing yoga for stress relief - find out why! She shared this post in the Tone It Up community group.

Be healthy. Feel beautiful. Have a steady mind. Wouldn't it be nice feel that way all the time? The reality is that we are often too tired or too busy to take the steps to get anywhere near there. Yoga and meditation can help you get there and lead a longer, healthier life. One of the first steps is reducing the stress in our lives.

Learn how yoga is proven to help with stress after the break!

The Consequences of Too Much Stress (and How to Deal)

Leta Shy — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:20:02 PDT

There's no such thing as a stress-free life, but it's important to minimize those levels of cortisol - the stress hormone - that exist in our bodies. Stress can lead to many unwanted consequences. Read on to find out just why you should relax.

It makes you gain weight. Stress means increased levels of the hormone cortisol, which signals to your body that you need to replenish calories as a response to stress levels. That can make you eat more after a stressful situation, which can lead to weight gain if you have chronic stress. And not only that, stress contributes to belly fat, which has been shown to lead to many different types of diseases.

You won't get a good night's rest. Stress has a funny way of compounding itself. Worrying can cause you to feel even more stress, which can affect sleep and lead to a host of other problems. Check out 10 consequences of not getting enough sleep here.

Read on for more consequences of stress, and don't worry, we've got tips to deal with it after the break.

The Importance of Breathing From Deep Down in Your Diaphragm

Heather Dale — Thu, 19 May 2011 02:43:53 PDT

If you ever find yourself in the midst of a panic attack or stressful moment, try taking a deep breath - no, a really deep breath. All of the yogis out there will already know what I'm talking about since deep breathing is an integral part of yoga.

When I say "deep" what I'm really referring to is your diaphragm (the large muscle right below your lungs) because rather than up and down breathing, what you're really trying to achieve is in and out breathing. When you take a deep breath, you are expanding the lungs, pressing down the diaphragm, and causing your abdomen to expand as your lungs fill with air. This is not only good for reducing tension, but it may also help with diseases that inhibit breathing, like emphysema.

According to Psychology Today, diaphragmatic breathing calms you down, rapidly and effectively, and is an immediate stress buster. For athletes and runners, it's good to get in the habit of breathing this way, since it will help you take in lots of oxygen during physical activities, hopefully preventing dizziness and nauseousness.

Here are some steps to follow when deep breathing.

5 Exercise Classes to Relieve Aggression

Michele Bell — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 09:07:55 PST

I don't know if you care to admit it, but it seems we all sometimes reach a boiling point where we just want to punch a hole in the wall. On my way to the gym the other day, I was so irked and wound up, I knew my routine Pilates class wasn't going to be enough for me. It probably would have cooled me down but I needed another type of high-energy class to take the steam out of my engine. Luckily, my facility offers enough to pacify the Rambette in me. Come check out which five classes will help you cool down while your body warms it up.

Flickr user superwebdeveloper

Active Stress Relief Tips From Kerri Walsh

Guest Writer — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 10:30:54 PDT

The following post was written by Olympic athlete and mom Kerri Walsh, two-time gold medalist in pairs beach volleyball.

Here are my fave active stress relievers:

Turn on your iPod, tie up your sneakers and go, go, go!! Choose a workout that will allow you to get in a "zone," then jog, spin, sweat that stress away.
Dance: Create your favorite dance music station on Pandora, crank up the volume, and let your body move to the beat. Jump around, shake it, get low. Sometimes all you need is a little dance therapy. Another positive is that this is sure to bring a smile to your face, even if it's only because you are laughing at yourself, this will make you smile.
Write: Stream of consciousness, run-on sentences, to-do lists, confessions, words of thanks, a little trash talking. Write down whatever is on your mind, get it off your chest, and let it go.
Yoga: Well, duh!!
Make Love: Misery loves company and spending time with your loving partner a) is never miserable and b) connecting intimately is a good way to focus on something positive. So love it up with the one you love - the stress will temper itself and you won't feel alone.
Be sure to catch up and read all of Kerri's great posts on FitSugar!

Source: Carvell Photography

Minutes to Healthier Relationships

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:00:27 PDT

I've experienced firsthand how easy it is to get so caught up in the chaos of your personal life and work schedule that you neglect the people who mean the most to you. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle includes taking those much-needed minutes in the day to keep your relationships going strong. It's good for you! Here are five ways to involve your loved ones in a small moment that's stress-free, happy, and healthy.

Source

Music: It's Like a Massage but Cheaper

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:47:40 PDT

Listening to music may not feel the same as getting a massage, but it does have the same calming effect. A new study shows that massage therapy is just as effective in reducing anxiety as lying down and listening to music.

Researchers from the Group Health Research Institute randomly assigned 68 participants with 10 one-hour treatments: a massage with music, breathing deeply while lying down and listening to music, or listening to music while lying down and being warmed with heating pads. After three months the anxiety level of each group had decreased by half.

This is great news for patients who might not be able to afford the costs of massage therapy since lying down with music is much cheaper. And while music can't work out a sore body, it often helps lift my spirits - how about you?