Coping Skills for Treating Stress (6 Relaxation Techniques)

Recently I found out I was unconsciously clenching my
teeth. (See my thread.) Since non-stop stress can hurt
our health (as the book about The Triple Whammy tells
us), I started surfing for information about stress.
I found an article online which gives us 6 suggestions
for helping us to reduce stress in our bodies.
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There are many ways to relax, so select a method that works
best for you. Relaxation techniques include:

1-Deep breathing. Unlike children, most adults breathe with
their chests. Each time you breathe in, your chest expands,
and each time you breathe out, it contracts. Children generally
breathe from their diaphragms, the muscle that separates the
chest from the abdomen. Deep breathing with your diaphragm,
a technique that you can relearn, can be relaxing. To practice
deep breathing, sit comfortably with your feet flat on the floor.
Breathe in through your nose, and allow your abdomen to
expand as you breathe in. Pause for a second, and then exhale
through your mouth, gently pushing in your abdomen with your hand.

2-Progressive muscle relaxation. This involves relaxing a series
of muscles one at a time. First increase the tension level in a
group of muscles, such as a leg or an arm, by tightening the
muscles and then relaxing them. Then move on to the next
muscle group. It may also help to apply warm, moist heat.

3-Guided imagery. Also known as visualization, this method of
relaxation involves lying quietly and picturing yourself in a
pleasant and peaceful setting. You experience the setting with
all of your senses, as if you were actually there. For instance,

~~seadancer~~...

Hi Pat - Sounds like you've found ways to lessen stress.
I never enjoyed group classes very much. Some parts of
them were fun, but I often got bored and couldn't wait for
the class to be over. I hated the floor exercises!
I don't think I have the patience for yoga.
I prefer free-style dancing to linedancing. I don't like being
locked into a set of routine steps. I wish I liked it more.
It certainly is a good way to exercise and lessen stress.
I like listening to "easy-listening" music on our Music Choice
TV channel. Kids nowadays call it elevator music, but
I find it relaxing. They're playing "Ruby" right now. (g)
How often do you linedance?

Linedancer...

"Ruby" as in don't send your man to town ?
that's a blast from the past, oldies but goodies.

I linedance Tuesday and Thursday afternoons Sea, it's not as easy as it used
to be keeping the steps in my head, I have been dancing about seven years
now, so that's hundreds of dances to remember !

~~seadancer~~...

No, I don't think it's that "Ruby". A midi of the song you
mentioned is at:
It doesn't sound like the one I was listening to.
As for remembering the steps in linedancing, that was
another problem. (g) Too much work. (g)
It's nice that you go to linedancing twice a week.
I know they have it here at the local Senior Citizens.
I should really look into it.
At least it's a musical way to exercise.

imagine lying on the beach. Picture the beautiful blue sky,
smell the salt water, hear the sounds of the waves, and feel
the warm breeze on your skin. The messages your brain
receives as you experience these senses help you to relax.

4-Meditation. Meditation is a way to calm your mind and body.
During meditation you sit quietly and focus on nothing or on a
mantra - a simple sound repeated over and over. This causes
you to enter a deeply restful state that reduces your body's
stress response. Your breathing slows, your muscles relax,
and your brain wave activity indicates a state of relaxation.

5-Music, dance and art therapy. These therapies can reduce
stress and anxiety and promote self-confidence and well-being.
Like other forms of relaxation, graceful dance, art expression,
and performing or listening to music help reduce pain by
relieving muscle tension and slowing your breathing.

6-Yoga. Yoga incorporates proper breathing, movement and
posture. It involves completing a series of postures, during
which you pay special attention to your breathing - inhaling
during certain movements and exhaling with others.

Above was from:
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What technique works best for you?

West Stand Bowler...

Progressive alcohol imbibing ;-)

Or are you stressless? (g)

Greg Lewin...

ceilidh / scottish country dancing is one of the best
for me.

I think dance was at or near top of the league table of
things that make you happy or unhappy, that was drawn
up by a researcher into happiness. And he did scottish
country !

iirc, politics was bottom of the scale, as something
that reliably made people miserable.