TIPS to relax/destress

[fetchspot]

My yoga post got me to thinking you might have some answers

My favorite time to stretch/tai chi is when I am exhausted from exercise (long run/or ride) and my mind is in a calm state ( not rapidly jumping thought to thought). Then I am able to concentrate on the stretch and feel relaxed. But I can't be exhausted/spent all the time before I need to relax. What helps you all to feel relaxed--not stressed out. I am thinking along the lines of Andrew Weil and Martin Seligman--authentic happiness.com etc. What helps you lead a happier, healthy life?

thanks--fs

[Crankin]

Why don't you look at Mindfulness Meditation? Jon Kabat-Zinn is the guru in this field, but there are lots of resources by others.
It's a well vetted approach to stress reduction, anxiety reduction, and generally helping people to deal with both chronic stress and physical illness. I took the course about 5 years ago, when I was dealing with unknown illness and other stressors. There are CDs for some of the exercises/meditations.
This is a whole philosophy of living with some very useful applications. You could also look into some of the more "relaxation" type yoga. In the US, we see yoga as a form of exercise. In other parts of the world, it's a whole different system of psychology.

[Dogmama]

Why don't you look at Mindfulness Meditation? Jon Kabat-Zinn is the guru in this field, but there are lots of resources by others.
It's a well vetted approach to stress reduction, anxiety reduction, and generally helping people to deal with both chronic stress and physical illness. I took the course about 5 years ago, when I was dealing with unknown illness and other stressors. There are CDs for some of the exercises/meditations.
This is a whole philosophy of living with some very useful applications. .

+100
I'm in the 6th week of the course and it is changing my life.

[fonda1212]

Yoga or Meditation are regarded as the best therapy for relaxing your mind and feel at peace. My way of relaxing is listening to musics when i am stressed out. It works very well for me. Even many individuals find music as a great stress buster.

[Reesha]

I don't carry much stress, but there have been situations in my life that have really loaded it on and I was lucky enough to have a sivananda yoga instructor who lived/worked at the same boarding school that I did. Her classes focused on stretching and breathing. I felt like a new person after each session.

On a regular basis, though, throwing myself into the midst of nature really does it for me. Being swallowed up in forest, on top of a mountain, on the ocean, somewhere solitary. Doesn't matter the time of year. I got that feeling yesterday on my century ride when the madison county trails of IL took me deep into the forest. It was heavenly.

[Jiffer]

Riding my bike!!!

[Dogmama]

Is it this one?

Looks like those are just the meditations. His meditations are very good. I also like his books, especially Full Catastrophe Living.

[malkin]

+1 on Full Catastrophe Living

[Crankin]

Yes, that is the CD, but , if you can't take the course, then definitely read the books. Of course, you can just do the meditations, but there really is some context there.

[fetchspot]

I like Martin Segilman's test on strengths. I never in my life would have thought "learning" was something that is calming/beneficial to me and to include it more often in my life.