Stress Busters Stress Relieving Practices Group Project Spring 2004

Stress Busters Definition: A stressor is anything that throws your body out of allostatic balance. –Most holistic traditions speak of balance or harmony –Can be an actual event –Can be the anticipation of an actual event

Stress Busters Three Types of Stress –Acute Physical –Chronic Physical –Psychological / Social

Stress Busters The Focus of our Project –Addressing psychological and social stressors. –Applying techniques and remedies to bring us back into balance. –Seeing which techniques and remedies worked for the group.

Stress Busters Negative Effects of Stress - Immune System - Sex / Reproduction System - Gastrointestinal Problems - Memory - Cardiovascular System - Digestive System

Stress Busters Stress Relief Practices Cooking Exercise Miscellaneous Bubble Bath Meditation

Stress Busters Exercise “ A stress free mind and disease-free body are the birthright of every human being. Only true spiritual knowledge can help us handle our mind and bring us back to the present moment. Breathing techniques, as well as meditation and yoga, can be used as powerful tools to release tension and negative emotions, helping one to live more fully in the present moment.” -Sri Sri Ravi Shankar addressing the United Nations 50 th Anniversary Celebration

Stress Busters Exercise Walking fast- Women: 45 Men: 60 Painting Washing a car Playing tag Moving furniture Walking upstairs

Stress Busters Exercise Ways helping to reduce stress exercise affects the body and mind; in turn Helping to Reduce Stress. –It increases the body’s output of epinephrine, producing feelings of euphoria –It changes the pattern of the brain’s neurotransmitter secretion, particularly norepinephrine, producing mood changes –It increases endorphin secretions, and enkephalins, which are hormone-like substances that facilitate feelings of inner peace.

Stress Busters Exercise Walking in Balance: –While you dress and or warm up before any type of workout, remind yourself that you are taking time away from the problems and worries facing you. The main goal during this exercise period is to see increase the awareness of the environment you are in, imagining you are experiencing it for the first time. If outside- notice every tree, every cloud, and every bird. Try to feel that you are a part of that environment, by noticing as much of it as you can.

Stress Busters Bubble Baths While ‘Prevention is Better than A Cure” a leisurely and relaxing soak in a bubble bath is guaranteed way to reduce stress. The following are some of the experiences recorded by members of the group.

Stress Busters Miscellaneous Personal definition of stress Dealing with stress The project The process of tackling the miscellaneous The conclusion: How I felt after Accessories Plan Ahead Useful sites – – –

Stress Busters Meditation How effective is meditation on stress Different ways of meditation –Zen –Western –Ayurveda

Stress Busters Cooking “We cannot eat Raw potatoes, but we don’t throw them away just because they are raw. We know we can cook them. So, we put them in a pot of water, put the lid on, and put the pot on the fire. The fire is mindfulness, the practice of breathing consciously and focusing on our anger. The lid symbolizes our concentration, because it prevents the heat from going out of the pot.” Tich Nhat Hanh, Peace is Every Step