Shaunie Savage

Why relaxation is the most effective way to reduce stress

Many of us think of relaxation as something we do at the end of a stressful day: flopping on the couch and zoning out in front of the TV. But this does little to reduce the damaging effects of stress. Rather, you need to activate your body’s natural relaxation response, a state of deep rest that puts the brakes on stress, slows your breathing and heart rate, lowers your blood pressure, and brings your body and mind back into balance. You can do this by practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, rhythmic exercise, yoga or tai chi.