• Yoga is an effective technique for stress reduction.yoga image by Jorge Casais from Fotolia.com
  
  Stress is a part of life, especially in fast-paced modern societies, but your response to stress greatly influences how it affects your life and well-being. Whether you have a demanding job, juggle work and family, face financial struggles, marital problems or other personal challenges, you have more control than you may think. Every day you can make a conscious choice to deal with life's stresses in a positive way. Learning to relax is an empowering tool for coping with life's hurdles.
  
  

Take a Load Off

• There are many ways to relax; choose a technique, hobby or activity that resonates with you. Consider yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, massage therapy, gardening, soaking in the bath, taking a fitness class, spending time with friends, doing a puzzle or reading. The relaxation response lowers your heart rate and blood pressure, slows your breathing, reduces muscle tension, anger and frustration. It increases blood flow, improves concentration and boosts confidence in dealing with problems. What works for one person may not work for another; so, if it feels good, go with it.
  
  

Clear your Mind

• Stress fuels worry. Relaxation techniques help quiet the mind and turn your attention away from troubling thoughts. Yoga and Tai Chi integrate breath and movement to bring about peace of mind, insight and enhance well-being. Any enjoyable activity you can immerse yourself in will have the same desired effect. However, destructive activities such as heavy drinking or drug use may feel like an escape in the moment, but will likely compound your troubles.
  
  

Get off the Couch

• Sleeping, lying on the couch and being lazy do not count as relaxation. The relaxed state is best achieved in an awake state, when the mind is active, conscious and engaged in an activity. Aerobic exercise is another stress-buster. Go for a bike ride or a run on the treadmill. Exercise is proven to reduce stress, anxiety and muscle tension by releasing feel-good endorphins into the body. You will also catch a better night's sleep.
  
  

Practice, Practice, Practice

• Build a relaxation practice into your life. The effects won't last unless you integrate what works for you into your daily routine. Make a schedule. Carve out time for yourself to decompress and rebuild your energy reserves. When life is hectic and stressful, time is harder to come by, but if make time anyway and your quality of life will improve instantly.