We are living in a society that is laden with stress. Not a day goes by that I don’t have an interaction with someone who expresses their frustration over a stressful situation in their life. Either they or a loved one is out of work or underpaid. Some struggle with major illness or health concerns, and more than a few are raising children and wondering how they are going to save for college while still finding a way to make ends meet in this current economy.
Nowadays it seems that stress isn’t related to an isolated situation, but rather it has become a way of living. In reaction to this stress people walk around tense, impatient and angry. Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the demands of life. But when you’re unable to cope well with the stress in your life, your mind and body pay the price. Medical research has shown that our bodies respond to stress in a multitude of negative ways, from mild indigestion to severe and often life threatening conditions such as high blood pressure and heart attack.
The good news is there are things you can do to help relieve the stress and anxiety in your life as well as combat the related medical conditions that come along with it. For starters you can incorporate the practice of guided imagery, which involves focusing on mental images, such as a serene setting. Other simple techniques include breathing exercises or taking a walk and appreciating the beauty in the world around you. You can also try yoga or tai chi, which combine both mental and physical exercise, and can help heal the mind and the body.
All forms of exercise have a positive physiological effect on the body and are an essential part of good body function. Not only does it keep the heart healthy and get oxygen into the system, exercise can relax tense muscles, which when left unattended can lead to stress-related aches and pains. Exercise can also improve your mental wellness. Research has found that regular aerobic exercise can help relieve mild to moderate degrees of depression and anxiety while increasing self-confidence. Exercise increases blood flow to the body and the brain and stimulates the nervous system by boosting production of “feel good” neurotransmitters called endorphins, which induces a natural “high.” People who exercise have been found to experience less loneliness and anger, which in turn eases their stress levels and gives them a better sense of control over their own destiny.
Human beings were not designed to sit around in chairs all day; we were designed to move. So make a plan now, dust off those sneakers, reactivate your health club or gym membership and you will have a healthy outlet for the next time you are feeling stressed by everyday life. Getting up and getting active perhaps provides the shortest route to a feeling of wellbeing.
Lori Graham NFPT-CPT is a personal trainer at the Bear-Glasgow YMCA.
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We are living in a society that is laden with stress. Not a day goes by that I don’t have an interaction with someone who expresses their frustration over a stressful situation in their life. Either they or a loved one is out of work or underpaid. Some struggle with major illness or health concerns, and more than a few are raising children and wondering how they are going to save for college while still finding a way to make ends meet in this current economy.
Nowadays it seems that stress isn’t related to an isolated situation, but rather it has become a way of living. In reaction to this stress people walk around tense, impatient and angry. Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the demands of life. But when you’re unable to cope well with the stress in your life, your mind and body pay the price. Medical research has shown that our bodies respond to stress in a multitude of negative ways, from mild indigestion to severe and often life threatening conditions such as high blood pressure and heart attack.
The good news is there are things you can do to help relieve the stress and anxiety in your life as well as combat the related medical conditions that come along with it. For starters you can incorporate the practice of guided imagery, which involves focusing on mental images, such as a serene setting. Other simple techniques include breathing exercises or taking a walk and appreciating the beauty in the world around you. You can also try yoga or tai chi, which combine both mental and physical exercise, and can help heal the mind and the body.
All forms of exercise have a positive physiological effect on the body and are an essential part of good body function. Not only does it keep the heart healthy and get oxygen into the system, exercise can relax tense muscles, which when left unattended can lead to stress-related aches and pains. Exercise can also improve your mental wellness. Research has found that regular aerobic exercise can help relieve mild to moderate degrees of depression and anxiety while increasing self-confidence. Exercise increases blood flow to the body and the brain and stimulates the nervous system by boosting production of “feel good” neurotransmitters called endorphins, which induces a natural “high.” People who exercise have been found to experience less loneliness and anger, which in turn eases their stress levels and gives them a better sense of control over their own destiny.
Human beings were not designed to sit around in chairs all day; we were designed to move. So make a plan now, dust off those sneakers, reactivate your health club or gym membership and you will have a healthy outlet for the next time you are feeling stressed by everyday life. Getting up and getting active perhaps provides the shortest route to a feeling of wellbeing.
Lori Graham NFPT-CPT is a personal trainer at the Bear-Glasgow YMCA.
