At Peace Media: Relaxation stress relief and healing

1. Good stress and bad stress . . . learn the difference.

GOOD STRESS
stuff you can change

Deadlines, demands from family, friends,
co-workers, the pressure to do too much in
too little time. . . sure, this can be stressful
but in fact, our experts tell us that it actually
qualifies as good stress.

Good stress means you’re constantly engaged in a proactive way and testing your creativity, emotional and intellectual resources in non-stop problem solving and juggling. So, what’s good about this? It’s important to feel needed, to be contributing to our families-friends-workplace and community. The daily dynamic of problem-solving actually keeps you on your toes, builds your resiliency and can empower you as long as you allow yourself to step off the treadmill on a regular basis with activities that you personally find renewing, rejuvenating and relaxing. See the list below for ideas.

What’s much worse is to feel like what you think, feel and do makes no difference whatsoever. So the next time, you’re feeling overwhelmed, realize that stress caused by "too much to do" is much better than stress caused by the angst and apathy of feeling like you’re not needed and that you can’t make a difference.

BAD STRESS
stuff you can’t change

Being busy and engaged is good; but if you’re being bombarded with negativity, criticism and lack of support and understanding, that constitutes bad stress. Bad stress gnaws away at your sense of worth, your self-esteem and makes you feel deflated, fatigued and apathetic. Sometimes it helps to remind yourself that negative people are trying to wear you down in an effort to boost their own sense of control, however warped it may be. Listen, acknowledge and then let it roll off. . . there’s no point in obsessing over what you can’t change. Save your crusading energy, motivation and ideas for people, places and projects where your efforts are appreciated. . .

2. Explore time-tested coping strategies . . . progressive relaxation, meditation, yoga, tai chi, qi gong and massage are just the beginning.

LEARN TO RELAX
try the progressive relaxation exercise on
Serena’s Garden

PRACTICE MEDITATION
check out the body scan meditation
on Yoga Pulse CD

LEARN MASSAGE
the award-winning Esalen Massage video is
the best place to start, even if you’re a novice.

GET A MASSAGE
Need some help finding a licensed, certified massage
therapist in your area? Visit the Associated Bodywork
Massage Professionals website or the
American Massage Therapy Association website to
find a qualified practitioner near you.

Here are a few of the
educational, non-profit
and charitable
organizations that we
support and contribute
to here at At Peace Media

www.esalen.org

www.amnestyusa.org

www.massagetherapyfoundation.org

www.bastyr.edu

www.AboutOurKids.org

3. Get involved . . . help someone else, find a charitable or non-profit organization to support with your time or other resources, seek out meaningful connections.

Churches, charities, non-profit and educational organizations have all been hurt by a drop in donations and volunteer help since 9/11. Your efforts are really needed and getting involved with people in need might even make some of your own worries and concerns seem less important than you thought. You’ll see a list of some of the non-profit and educational organizations that we actively support in the Get Involved section of our website.

4. Find a creative outlet

The next time you feel stressed-out by the people around you or the place you’re in, you could either air your complaints to your best friend or instead take the time to explore or find a creative outlet. Take a class, dive back into a hobby you’ve ignored, find a project that will get your creative juices flowing. And if you think knitting and other crafts are only for the senior set, guess again. We recently read about a wonderful knitting café in Hollywood where knitting aficionados from all walks of life gather together to share tips and techniques. Maybe you could even devote some of your creative talents to making a meaningful contribution of time and effort to a local charity or non-profit.

Massage & Spa Music
Michael Benghiat
CD Collection

Healing Spa Music

Relaxing Guitar

Spa Lounge Music

Guided Relaxation Music

Holiday Spa Music

Relaxing Classical Music

Music Specials!

Click on the First Aid Bag above to discover how to make your holidays less stressful and more relaxing.

5. Listen to music

"Music melts all the separate parts of our bodies together.?
-- Anais Nin

Wouldn’t you love to find music that makes you feel this great? Music therapists know that music is not only universal, but using music to create a harmonious, relaxing and renewing experience can dramatically enhance your ability to relax, concentrate, be creative and more. For over six years, massage therapists and bodywork pros have used At Peace Music to enhance the massage experience for their clients. Some have said “it’s not music, it’s a cure” . . . read more about At Peace Music and what people have to say about our music for massage, aromatherapy, relaxation, stress-relief, yoga, meditation and more when you click on any CD in our various music collections.

"Music is medicinal in many cultures. Find tunes that deeply impact you and use them to help focus your spirit."
- Dr. Mehmet Oz

6. Seek inspiration

Negative thoughts can really gnaw away at your sense of well-being and make you feel dispirited and listless. Keep your eyes open, broaden your horizons and squelch those feelings of hopelessness and anxiety by keeping a stack of inspirational reading nearby. Look for inspiration on a daily basis. Keep a journal or file of quotes that move you then post them near or in your workspace for an instant pick-up. Find books with inspirational ideas or quotes. We even have a friend who attaches her favorite quotes to the signature on her email – thereby sharing the "wealth" with everyone else.

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"Two roads diverged in a wood,
and – I took the one less traveled
by. And that has made all
the difference."
- Robert Frost

"For you shall go out in joy, and
be led back in peace; the
mountains and the hills before
you shall burst into song, and all
the trees of the field shall clap
their hands. . . "
- The prophet Isaiah

7. Go outside

Sure, you may think we’re stating the obvious here, but sometimes when you feel like you’ve reached a dead end, or feel hopelessly frustrated, or just need to sort through your thoughts with a clearer head, there’s no substitute for fresh air. Shut down your computer. Turn off your cell phone. Unplug yourself from modern life and take a walk. Plan a vacation that gets you closer to nature. And why wait for the perfect sunny day? A walk in the rain can be a totally energizing and rejuvenating sensory experience.

8. And while you’re out . . . exercise

Exercise speeds up your metabolism, sending more oxygen to your brain as well as the rest of your body. It may sound counterintuitive, but if you’re tired, taking the time to squeeze in some exercise might just be what your body needs to wake up, rejuvenate and feel more energized. Exercise also helps if you’re having a tough time relaxing. . . all those endorphins produced during physical exertion can help you relax and unwind easier once you’ve finished your workout.

9. Pass on the cookies

We’ve all had those low blood-sugar moments. Sure, it may seem easier to reach for that candy bar or cookie but aside from all of the calories, what are you really gaining? Don’t just take our word for it; our friend and author Joan Ifland has spent years researching how nutrition can help or hurt you. Visit www.sugarsandflours.com to read more about it.

10. Take a POWER NAP

Sleep deprivation causes more problems than you think. . . More automobile accidents are related to overtired, sleep drivers than drunken driving. If you’re chronically sleep deprived, more than your health is affected. Visit www.powernapkit.com for more information about this topic and to see how sleep deprivation aggravates stress, creates health problems and more.

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11. Count your blessings

Practice small acts of kindness with those around you.

12. A good laugh?

As Shakespeare said, "a light heart lives long." Being able to see humor in a less than ideal situation is also a great survival skill. Don’t believe us? Click here to read about Trisha Hasenclever, a former 911 dispatcher who knows stress first hand and founded the business, "Learn With Laughter".

13. Hold the criticism.

Laughing at or "putting down" other people is usually a pointless act of insensitivity. Why be negative, wreck confidence, or cause unnecessary pain and hurt when you could be building bridges.

14. Value yourself

Don’t be motivated to do things just to gain the approval of those around you. Decide what’s important to you and don’t be afraid to "swim against the current." Obsessing over what others think of you just creates unnecessary stress.

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"Treasure the gift of life"

- Richard Carlson, Ph.D
author, Don’t Sweat
the Small Stuff

15. Remember, life is a journey

Keep learning.

Stay inspired.

Do good for yourself and others.

Make a difference.

Build a life with meaning
and surround yourself with others
who bring out the best in you.