Manage Holiday Stress and Increase Overall Wellness with Relaxation Training

Dec. 11, 2014 - PRLog -- Manage Holiday Stress and Increase Overall Wellness with Relaxation Training

St. Paul, MN – Dec. 10, 2014

According to a study conducted by the American Psychological Association, Americans are more likely to feel their stress levels increase rather than decrease during the holidays. Various stressors (schedule-related, financial, interpersonal, family-related, etc.) have the potential to make the holidays a difficult time, especially if stress is not managed appropriately.

We receive constant messages in our culture regarding how we should pack our days full of activities and learn to survive on little sleep around the holidays in order to fully experience the season. In reality, our bodies and minds need sufficient relaxation and rest in order to function well so that we can be resilient and fulfilled in our daily lives.

Relaxation training can help to reduce holiday stress and make the season more enjoyable. Relaxation training involves learning and practicing a set of relaxation techniques (deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and meditation) that help calm the mind and body. According to the Mayo Clinic, when a person enters into a relaxed state, he or she breathes deeply, allowing oxygen to restore the body – levels of stress hormones decrease, muscles relax, the pulse slows, blood pressure decreases, and the mind and body work together to eliminate the negative impacts of stress. This results in a calmer feeling overall, improved sleep, and the ability to approach holiday activities with renewed energy.

Relaxation and life coach Beth Freschi of A Time for Expression, LLC (atimeforexpression.com) offers effective ways for individuals to reduce the impact of holiday stress and improve overall wellbeing. Many of Beth’s clients have found her acclaimed guided relaxation recordings to be a valuable tool for decreasing stress and improving their quality of sleep, especially around the holidays. On her best-selling recordings, such as “Uplifting Guided Relaxation” and “A Time for Sleep: Guided Relaxation Techniques for Peaceful Slumber,” Freschi’s pleasant voice floats over ambient music, allowing the listener to enter into a deep state of tranquility.

Both of these recordings, as well as others by Freschi, are available for purchase in MP3 and CD form at A Time for Expression, LLC (atimeforexpression.com/products.php). Relaxation CDs and convenient MP3 download cards are also available for order in bulk quantities at A Time for Expression, LLC (atimeforexpression.com/offer).

References:

American Psychological Association, “Holiday Stress,” 2006. http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2006/12/holiday-stress.pdf

Mayo Clinic. “Relaxation Techniques: Try These Steps to Reduce Stress,” 2014.  http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/relaxation-technique/art-20045368

Written by: Jen Westmoreland Bouchard, Lucidité Writing, Inc.

Contact: Beth Freschi

bethfreschi@yahoo.com

A Time for Expression, LLC

2258 Commonwealth Ave.

St. Paul, MN 55108

atimeforexpression.com