Exercise and being part of a supportive community are great ways to mitigate stress.
At Body Balance we offer personal training, massage therapy, and nutrition coaching to help you on your quest to lower stress in 2019. Stress and anxiety figure into the daily lives of most adults, and stress challenges all aspects of our well-being: mental, emotional, and physical. It’s even linked to weight gain. The excellent flipside to this is, when you reduce stress, the benefits are far reaching. Or, in the sage words of Yogananda: “Learn to be calm, and you will always be happy.”
At Body Balance, our three-pronged approach to wellness—fitness and private personal training, massage therapy, and nutrition coaching—and our focus on creating community all contribute to mitigating stress, as does a new offering: a four-week meditation workshop, which begins this Saturday, January 5.
Fitness and Movement
Exercise is undisputedly one of the best ways to reduce stress. Bodies are meant to move, and when we move, we function better, not just physically, but psychologically as well. Movement helps elevate our mood and gives us an energy boost—especially when we’re feeling worn down. Even as little as ten-minute bouts of moderate movement are beneficial.
Working with a personal trainer will help keep you motivated and take the guesswork out of your exercise regimen. At Body Balance Pleasanton, we offer one-on-one private personal training for all ages and abilities. For older adults, several of our trainers specialize in senior training. Another option is to pair up with a friend or family member for private partner training. We also offer small group classes. Our trainers work with you where you’re at and are there to support you and help you achieve your goals, step by step. We truly live by our motto: Our passion is your wellbeing.
Massage Therapy
There are few experiences more calming than massage therapy. Not only does massage reduce stress by revving down the nervous system and the mind, it helps reduce aches, pain, and stiffness; promotes healing and soft tissue repair; and increases circulation and mobility.
The massage therapists at Body Balance Pleasanton practice traditional massage therapy—also known as Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, and sports massage—as well as numerous other bodywork wellness therapies:
- Lomi Lomi
- Massage cupping
- Prenatal massage
- La Stone therapy
- Reiki
- Gua Sha
- Ear candling
Nutrition
While many people don’t directly associate stress reduction with what they eat, nutrition is at the foundation of our well-being—you are, after all, what you eat—so diet strongly figures into the stress reduction formula. When your body is functioning well, as when your food and drink intake is balanced and nutritious, you are better able to process stress.
If you’re like most people, better eating habits figure on your 2019 list of resolutions. There are many strategies to employ to make your resolutions stick, like starting small. To improve diet, this could include, say, eliminating sodas and other sugary drinks. If you’re looking to boost your nutrition journey with guidance and structure, Body Balance Pleasanton offers nutrition coaching. A good diet program can help you get to the heart of many ailments, including anxiety, as has been experienced by Body Balance Transformational Nutrition Coach Cristina Moidel.
Community
Building strong relationships and community support is a cornerstone to stress reduction. We are social creatures, and having people to share with, confide in, and get support and learn from is important for feeling good and lowering anxiety.
Establishing ties with people who do what you enjoy or aspire to by joining clubs or groups helps reinforce your commitment to a given activity while also developing relationships. Body Balance Pleasanton puts a premium on community. We foster a warm, supportive, inclusive environment, where everyone is welcome. We frequently participate in local 5km runs and obstacle course events and invite all-comers to train and participate with us.
Mindfulness through Meditation: A New Body Balance Workshop
Mindfulness practices like meditation are excellent for lowering stress and achieving a calm state of mind. Start your 2019 with a Body Balance meditation workshop. This four-week program will take place each Saturday in January from 5 to 6 pm, beginning this coming Saturday, January 5.
Learn the technique of Max Meditation, which draws on numerous meditation techniques and modern science to help guide practitioners to a deep state of relaxation and rejuvenation. The workshop is open to beginners and experienced meditators alike.
Stress Reduction to Try at Home
Of course there are loads of ways to reduce stress on your own time. Healthline offers 16 excellent stress reduction strategies. In addition to exercise, practicing mindfulness, and spending time with friends and family, they list:
- Write down your stresses
- Laugh
- Yoga
- Learn to say No
- Deep breathing
Want to test run yoga before taking a class. YouTube has loads of free classes of just about any duration and ability level. Same goes for mindfulness practices like meditation; even taking a few minutes to calm and center your mind can help, especially if you’re new to the practice or are short on time. A little is always better than nothing. Here’s a nice example of a two-minute guided meditation:
You’ll benefit in the moment by just closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths, or taking an hour to practice yoga or get a massage, and when you consistently and frequently employ stress reduction tactics, the cumulative health and wellness benefits can become significant—deeply nourishing, healing, and energizing. You may amaze yourself with how much healthier you are and how much better you feel.
How will you stay calm in 2019? We welcome you to share your favorite ways to reduce stress, and the impact stress reduction makes on your life.
