SRE (Stress Releasing Exercises)

During these troubled economy, layoffs and rescission stress hormones can play havoc and result in headaches, breakouts, stiff neck, fatigue, weight gain and bloating are quite common. Stress has been linked to mental, emotional and physical illnesses. Thus it is important to reduce your stress level in order to maintain overall health.

Here are a few simple stress releasing and energizing exercises for your mind, body and spirit that will help relieve stress and promote sense of wellbeing

• During stressful situations our breathing takes a blow which can lead to anxiety, muscle tension, and headaches. Simple deep-breathing exercise done for 1 to 2 minutes several times a day can relieve stress. Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of four and exhaling slowly through your mouth for a count of eight relaxing your shoulders, chest and stomach muscles as you exhale. Repeat these steps for a few minutes. Breathe smoothly and comfortably. You will feel your body relax.

• Muscles tense when you are stressed with these progressive muscle relaxation exercise you can relieve the muscles. Tighten or clench each muscle in a slow and sustained manner for 5 to 10 seconds, then release for 20 seconds while you breathe normally .Start with your hands and continue to the biceps, shoulders, head, and face, down the back to the buttocks, thighs, and lower legs, Repeat this exercise on the areas where you notice the most tension. Take care while tensing the neck and back muscles .Do not twist or jerk motions as it could result in injury.

• Try this scalp soother exercise by placing your thumb behind your ears while spreading your fingers on top of your head. Move your scalp back and forth slightly by making circles with your fingertips for 15-20 seconds.

• Find yourself relaxing with this exercise. Close your eyes and place your ring fingers directly under your eyebrows, near the bridge of your nose. Slowly increase the pressure for 5-10 seconds, then gently release. Repeat 2-3 times

• Release the tension in your shoulders by reaching one arm across the front of your body to your opposite shoulder. Using a circular motion, press firmly on the muscle above your shoulder blade. Repeat on the other side.

• Try this mini stress releasing exercise find a comfortable place and  count very slowly to yourself from ten down to zero, one number for each breath. Thus, with the first diaphragmatic breath, you say "ten" to yourself, with the next breath; you say "nine" so on. By zero you should be feeling great.

• As you breathe deeply use your thumb to thump on the K-27 point which is located an inch beneath and slightly out from the inner edge of your collarbone. This gets your energies running forward. You'll feel more alert.

• Clear your mind by curling your fingers and resting the fingertips above your eyebrows. Firmly and slowly pull across your forehead toward your temples. Then move up to your hairline and repeat. Continue all across the top of your scalp and down the back ending at your neck. Each time drag your fingers to the side slowly.

• Slap the entire palm of one hand across your forehead and hold it there for a few minutes until you can feel the pulses strong and even on both sides of your forehead or until the game is over! Feel the blood returning to your head.