Whether you work an 80 hour week, run a business, or are a soccer mom extraordinaire, juggling all aspects of your life can be stressful! According to a recent American Psychological Association study, nearly one-third of Americans live with extreme stress in their lives. Stress, if ignored, can adversely affect all areas of life... from work, to family to your health. It is now more important than ever to step back and relax a little each day. Here are 10 ways to help you find the calm within the chaos.
- Breathe … inhale and exhale deeply through your nose. Clear your mind. Let go of your thoughts and concentrate on the sound of your breath. Breathing through the nose pulls air to the bottom of your lungs and delivers a good dose of oxygen to the bloodstream. To enhance you breathing exercise, try doing it in your Mr.Steam® steam shower... it's like having a warm yoga studio in the privacy of your own bathroom.
- Create a “relaxation” space within your home. Home spas are an ideal way to help you rejuvenate. The word “spa” is actually derived from the Latin “solus per aqua,” which means health through water. Why not transform your bathroom into your own private spa oasis by simply adding a Mr.Steam system. Mr.Steam offers affordable and convenient steam shower systems, making it an easy way to practice Steamtherapy™. Steam opens your pores that may release toxins and enhance circulation, creating a healthier you. While relaxing in your Mr.Steam steam shower, don’t forget to practice your breathing techniques to further enhance the relaxing experience.
- Concentration improves meditation. This well-known practice involves simply focusing your attention on a single object: breathing, a single word or just a happy image. We laugh about finding “our happy place,” but this practice enables you to do just that during stressful times. Close your eyes, breathe, go back to your point of focus and let it all go. An ideal place to practice concentration techniques is in your Mr.Steam steam shower.
- Awaken your senses! Enjoy the meditative benefits of aromatherapy, which is based on the healing properties of plants and herbs. For example, lavender is known to help people relax... eucalyptus offers cleansing and antiseptic elements... while mint stimulates and energizes. Enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy in your steam shower through Mr.Steam’s Aromasteam™ system.
- If you have a bit more time, take a slow walk. Concentrate on the movement of your legs and feet. Don’t focus on the destination. Focus on your body.
- An easy way to recharge in only a few minutes is through yoga style meditation. Sit in a comfortable position with your spine straight. Instead of closing your eyes, focus on gazing downward. This technique is even more helpful when performed in your Mr.Steam steam shower.
- Read to yourself or out loud. Try reading poetry, reflecting on the meaning of the words and the images they bring to mind.
- Incorporate color and light therapy into your day. Using specific colors and lighting may improve both your physical and mental states. Like aromatherapy, exposing yourself to certain colors may enable you to relax (blue), sooth and cleanse (white) or revitalize (yellow). Mr.Steam’s Chromasteam™ System infuses light and steam, which helps improve both physical and mental health.
- Learn to relax by gently flexing a muscle group. Breathe in and squeeze a muscle such as your abdomen. Hold it for a second then release. Repeat at least five times. You will learn to recognize tension in your body and develop the ability to help release it.
- Laugh. Laughter is known to be the best medicine, and it is truly a stress releaser. Take time to read or watch something funny and don’t hold back on this vital release.