6 EFFECTIVE WAYS TO DE-STRESS

As health-consciousness is unfailingly trending, women of today must always be “in-the-know” of the ways to stay fit. Knowing how to de-stress is one vital component of over-all well-being. Stress is one cruel perpetrator in chronic conditions such as headaches, high blood pressure, muscle pains and temperamental bursts. Being in a constant state of stress leads to exhaustion and depletes the body’s reservoir for immunity. De-stressing styles may vary from one individual to another, and here are some tips that you might want to try:

1. Work your stuff.

Exercise is good for your whole body as it creates a harmony within your bodily systems. It could be a 20-minute jog around the park, a self-taught aerobic routine or weekends spent in the gym; there’s no better way to promote a sense of well-being. Physical activities relieve the tension that builds up in your muscles when you are stressed, especially in your neck, shoulders, and back. So make it a habit to give your body a regular workout.

2. Munch healthily and heartily.

A well-balanced diet is best paired with right eating habits. Avoid binge eating or deprivation, for this is how some people usually react to stress. Get a load of your daily recommended amounts of nutrition without the fuss. You may also try preparing your own power meals as a means to de-stress. Recipes are readily available; you just have to take your pick.

3. It pays to pay for expert hands.

Massage parlors are always a hit for people who want to reduce stress. Physical contact is one important aspect of our overall well-being. It will help you relax and feel good about yourself. Besides the promise of serenity under expert hands, the following are the benefits of a proper spa treatment: enhancing spiritual awareness, increasing the body’s energy flow, improving flexibility of our body, reducing high blood pressure and hypertension, healing emotional distress, soothing tired muscles, toning and nourishing the skin, detoxifying the body, and stimulating circulation.

Here are few effective treatments you can get to achieve overall wellness for both mind and body:

Swedish Massage – A popular therapy that uses long strokes and kneading techniques that reduce body tension by increasing blood circulation, and sooth sore muscles.

Shiatsu Massage – another popular massage treatment that is based on the concept of acupuncture. Here, with dry fingers, the therapist puts pressure to various vital points of the body to alleviate blockage, allowing energy flow to regain holistic balance.

Hot Stone Massage – a therapy is ideal for aching muscles as it uses heated basalt stones that are strategically placed to affected body parts and specific points like the spine, belly, hands, between toes, etc. The stones’ heat retention ability and silky texture allow it to glide smoothly along the skin while heat penetrates deeply into tensed tissues.

Aromatherapy Massage – Practiced in different cultures for centuries now, this remedy utilizes aromatic compounds such as essential oils as alternative medicine that conditions mind and body through massage and inhalation.

You can check out these spas for massage and other wellness therapies:

CHI, THE SPA AT SHANGRI-LA
4th and 5th floor, Garden Wing, EDSA Shangri-La, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City
(02) 633-8888

NEO BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY
bonifacioglobalcity@neo.ph
(02) 8158233, (02) 8156948
(921) 4779999

NEO GREENHILLS
greenhills@neo.ph
(02) 5846789, (02) 5846066
(927) 7801118

NEO BORACAY
boracay@neo.ph
(036) 5063131

SONYA’S GARDEN SPA
Barangay Buck Estate, Alfonso, Cavite, Philippines
http://www.sonyasgarden.com/spa.html

4. Make yourself mobile.

Traveling is an excellent way to relieve fatigue. You not only get to see wonderful places, you get the opportunity to disengage from your regular life. This allows you to increase your knowledge and widen your perspectives, especially when you get to engage in different cultural customs and ideals. Your new experiences will enhance your inventiveness in facing old and new challenges when you go back to your routine. You will emerge invigorated with a new value for life.

5. Master Meditation.

Even just ten minutes of quiet can help reduce stress. Close your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply, just focusing on your breath coming in and going out. Do this about 10 times. There’s no way for you to be tensed when you are breathing fully and slowly. This will clear the mind, and besides, slow breathing is calming, so it actually helps relax your body even for a short period of time with mere breathing. You are sure to come out recharged. Doing this once or twice a day will surely work wonders in lowering stress levels.

Surely, you have heard of “Yoga”. Some might be intimidated by its many types and unfamiliar terms associated with it. For beginners, it is recommended to try Mysore Yoga. Here, you will be closely supervised by the instructor while you are being introduced to poses, gradually adding few poses as you practice.

Asthanga Vinsaya is another type of Yoga that aims to promote development and awareness to self. Here, you synchronize breath with each movement. Aside from core strength, flexibility and stamina, it also helps lower stress levels and loosens tensed muscles as you open up various parts of the body through effective poses, concentration and breathing.

Heated Flow is practiced in a heated room. This routine aims to alleviate joints and muscle tension alongside strength and flexibility. It is also a great way to improve circulation, detoxify body and rejuvenate skin as pores open up through sweating.

Here are some Yoga studios and their locations:

ANANDA MARGA YOGA
46 Maamo St., Sikatuna Village, Quezon City
Website: http://www.yogainmanila.org

410 Don Pedro Rodriguez St., Capitol Site, Cebu City
Website: http://yogaincebu.com

YOGAONE STUDIO
2nd Level, Banilad Town Center, Cebu City, Philippines
Email: cathy@yogaone.tv

SOUTH STUDIO
Door 3, Damosa Building, Angliongto Ave. (Mamay Road), Davao City
Website: http://www.southstudio.com.ph

BLISS YOGA MANILA
Unit 101, Dona Consolacion Building, 122 Jupiter St., Bel-Air, Makati City
Website: http://www.blissyogamanila.com

YOGA MANILA
405 Bougainvilla corner Sanggumay, Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City
Greenbelt Mansion, Unit 506, Perea St, Legaspi Village, Makati City
Chi Spa, EDSA Shangri-la, Manila, 01 Gardenway, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Website: http://www.yogamanila.com
Email: info@yogamanila.com

Barre3 is another way to ease tired body. It is a revolutionary practice that puts Yoga, ballet barre and Pilates in one class. You shouldn’t worry if you don’t know a thing about Pilates, never tried ballet, or not flexible enough to do a split or a headstand. As you go on with the class, all these aspects will improve as the routine promotes good posture, balance in mind and body, focus, strength and flexibility.

BARRE3
Building 8, 908 Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
R2 Level, PowerPlant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City
Lower Ground, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
2nd Floor Eastwood Mall (inside Richmonde Hotel), Eastwood City
Website: http://www.barre3.com.ph

6. Take your leisure time seriously.

Whether you enjoy listening music, movie marathons, baking heavenly goodies, or simply reading a chapter or two of your favorite Jane Austen novel during your spare time, you should take pleasure in every “alone-moment” you get. With all the everyday fuss of being a Super Mom, chances to spend time by yourself is extremely rare. So take time when you’re giving yourself a break, it will get your mind off your routine and allow you to appreciate life’s simple treasures.