Natural Ways to De-stress

Many people love the feeling of the holidays, even though the season can also be very stressful. Luckily, there are ways to de-stress over the holidays. If you prefer to stay away from medication to help alleviate stress, there are great natural ways you can relieve stress.

Meditation
Meditation helps you relax and center your thoughts. There have been many studies on the effects that meditation can have on you, and the results are very positive. A large number of people report they truly feel less stress after they spend time alone in a quiet room with nothing but their thoughts. If you want to meditate to help relieve stress, find a nice quiet room that is clean and free from clutter. Try to focus on one positive thought, whether it is a memory, a word, or even a sound. If you find your mind wandering, simply bring it back to that one positive thought. You’ll find that with practice your mind wanders less and less.

Acupressure
Acupuncture is a great practice to help relieve stress. However, if you’re not able to get in to see your acupuncture physician or you simply need to DE-STRESS NOW, acupressure is an effective way to help yourself. Both acupuncture and acupressure help your body circulate more blood, which leads to more energy, and that keeps you in good health both mentally and physically.

Two great acupressure points are on the top of your feet and on the center of your breastbone. On your feet, rub with your thumbs (or a pencil eraser if preferred) the soft tissue between the big toe and the second toe. As you move from the toes toward the ankles, you will find that the soft tissue will turn to bone about halfway up your foot. Rub the soft tissue, not the bone. Rub towards your toes…from the ankle towards the toes. Rub for three minutes (or longer) each day on each foot to reduce your stress.

For the center of your breastbone, simply tap it softly with two fingers for a couple of minutes. Tap the point where cleavage begins or slightly higher. The added benefit of this point is that it increases your immunity as well. These two points stimulate your neuro-transmitters and endorphins, creating a sense of relaxation and ease.

Don’t Forget: Hobbies and Activities
All work and no play makes Jill a dull girl. And it isn’t good for her! Remember to take a break to have fun with friends and family. Laughter is a great way to relieve stress. Additionally, spend some time on your own hobbies.

There’s no reason to go through the entire holiday season being stressed. Practice these tips to help you relax and enjoy your time to the fullest.

Amy Oros, Acupuncture Physician

About Amy Oros, Acupuncture Physician

Amy Oros is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine practicing Acupuncture and Neural Therapy. This combination of the two modalities provide natural, non-drug solutions to patients seeking highly effective, low-risk treatments.
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