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Stress Management Exercises

supervisors can make the workplace a wicked environment where employees must cope emotionally while striving to perform optimally. All of these environmental stressors can wreak havoc on the physical body and emotional psyche.

While not everyone deals with stress in the same way, the physical and emotional manifestations of handling high-pressure situations may be similar. Prolonged emotional conflict can cause sleep and digestive disorders, chronic pain, dental problems, headaches, and muscle spasms. High anxiety causes cold, sweaty palms, grinding teeth, or breathing difficulties. Symptoms of emotional overload can include an erratic or irregular heartbeat, restlessness, depression, irritability, or uncontrollable anger. Without the capacity to diffuse problems or cope with intense feelings of helplessness or despair through effective stress management exercises, individuals may require psychological or spiritual counseling to restore balance.

In conjunction with behavioral changes and spiritual counseling, stress management exercises can be employed to restore peace, tranquility and physical well being. Therapists and personal trainers can teach individuals how to alleviate stressors by utilizing relaxation techniques to protect the body and mind from the negative affects of worry and anxiety. Behavioral scientists advocate training individuals to mentally remove themselves away from situations, people and places which cause distress. Guided imagery, or imagining being transported to a more pleasant scene, such as a beachfront hideaway or tranquil seashore, helps individuals unwind and relax. Meditation techniques include thinking on things that are more pleasant and positive than the conflicts of the day. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

Mentally isolating specific areas of the body and relaxing one muscle at a time releases tension from head to toe. Deep breathing stress management exercises also slow the heart rate, calm nerves and rejuvenate cells. Therapy involves lying in a quiet room and slowly inhaling through the mouth or nose, then gradually exhaling until the mind and body are relaxed and calm. Christian therapists employ good old-fashioned prayer to help patients re-connect with God and reach the source of peace that passes all understanding. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

While prayer, meditation, and guided imagery work well to de-stress the mind, the physical body can benefit from aerobic and non-aerobic stress management exercises. Cycling, walking, running or jogging, and swimming are aerobic activities which increase the heart rate, improve circulation, and remove harmful chemicals produced by anxiety. Joining a health club or hiring a personal trainer can help individuals better cope with stressful emotional and physical challenges. Instead of jogging indoors on a track, stress management exercises can be performed outdoors under a canopy of sunshine and fresh air. A brisk 30-minute walk each day invigorates and rejuvenates cells, while promoting a healthier and happier outlook. Non-aerobic exercises are gentler and have a lower impact on the body. Some stress manangement exercises involve gentle movements which stretch and elongate the skeletal system while releasing toxins. Dancing is also an extremely effective way to release stress; and it takes many forms. Men and women may enjoy clogging, square dancing, ballroom dancing, or hip hop to "get in the groove" and out of an emotional rut. Graceful movements of liturgical or interpretive dance accompanied by the soft rhythms of spiritual or abstract music bring peace and tranquility to the mind, body and soul. Techniques also include tensing and releasing muscles in the face, hands, arms, back and legs to facilitate relaxation in one area of the body at a time.

Another benefit of stress management exercises is increased energy level. Active happy people have boundless energy and find pleasure in the simple things: a golden sunset or bright blue sky gracing a summer's day. When the body feels good, the mind is at peace; and the heart, the head and the psyche simply choose to follow suit. Gone are the black thoughts and dark shadows of worry, fear, and anxiety as individuals reclaim the joy of simply being alive. Happy and healthy people who regularly employ stress management teachniques discover that they can control situations by refusing to allow negative situations to take control. They fight off moodiness and depression by engaging themselves in the lives of others: volunteering at a local senior citizen home, caring for small children, pet sitting, or baking goodies for sick friends. With a positive outlook, individuals can focus attention on something other than their problems, freely devoting time and talent to enhance the lives of others. Therapists suggest consulting a physician before beginning stress management exercises. Older or infirm adults should try low-impact, non-aerobic activities, such as cycling or walking. The idea is to get moving, stop focusing on the negatives, and accentuate the positive with prayer, meditation and thanksgiving for a bountiful, stress-free life.

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