Relaxation therapies

Research shows that 15-20 minutes of relaxation a day can reduce hot flushes by up to 60%. Given the fast pace of our lives and the difficulty of taking time out, relaxation is often hard to achieve. This is why it helps to explore formal relaxation therapies.

STRESS CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON YOUR OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLBEING, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY CAN EXACERBATE SYMPTOMS SUCH AS HOT FLUSHES AND NIGHT SWEATS. IF YOU DEDICATE TIME EVERY DAY TO RELAXING AND RECHARGING YOUR BATTERIES, THE EFFECTS CAN BE EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL. YOGA WORKS ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT MIND, BODY AND SOUL NEED TO BE WORKING IN PERFECT HARMONY FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH. TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE THIS, YOGA USES ASANAS (POSTURES

THAT RELAX MUSCLES) AND PRANAYAMA (BREATHING TECHNIQUES THAT HELP IMPROVE THE OXYGEN FLOW IN YOUR

BODY AND REGULATE YOUR BREATHING). YOGIC MEDITATION AND RELAXATION EXERCISES HELP TO STILL THE MIND. ATTEND A YOGA CLASS TO LEARN THE BASIC POSTURES, THEN PRACTISE AT HOME ON A REGULAR BASIS.

PILATES IS A MORE RECENT RELAXATION THERAPY THAT ALSO EXERCISES THE BODY. THIS COMBINATION OF EASTERN AND WESTERN PHILOSOPHIES TEACHES YOU BREATHING TECHNIQUES WITH MOVEMENT, BODY MECHANICS, BALANCE, COORDINATION, POSITIONING OF THE BODY, SPATIAL AWARENESS, STRENGTH AND FLEXIBILITY. AS WITH

YOGA, YOU SHOULD FIRST GO TO SOME CLASSES TO LEARN THE EXERCISES

BEFORE PRACTISING THEM AT HOME. >>