Here is a great little stress buster. This little gem is everyone’s favourite secret addiction. I’ll admit it too. Half the reason why I buy stuff is for the bubble wrap. Bubble wrap has greatly accelerated consumerism 😉 and now it can help you to relieve some stress. Enjoy! Start popping.
Tag: stress relief
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Laughter Yoga in Toronto
What a great way to say good morning!!! Imagine starting your day with 45 minutes of laughter in the glorious outdoors. I just did, and I gotta say….. I feel fantastic. The class was led by Lynn who has been teaching laughter yoga for years on the Danforth. I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive at first. Enjoying a good laugh is one thing, but laughing for 45 minutes straight? Sounds like too much of a good thing. Also, we were smack dab in the middle of the park…. out in the open… for all to see. A bit intimidating. Luckily for me Lynn really knew what she was doing. She led me through a few different exercises, role plays, and games that would bring about a whole new batch of laughter. I was amazed when the class had ended because it felt like we were just beginning. Each new round of laughter had me feeling lighter, invigorated, less stressed and freer. It felt as if those mean tight muscles were letting go one by one. At the end I noticed I felt perfectly comfortable sitting cross legged on the floor, which for me is really good. Normally that position takes a lot of effort and concentration to maintain.
The laughter yoga class took place in Withrow Park at Danforth and Carlaw. There are only 2 more classes left for the summer: Tuesday August 25 at 5:30pm and Friday August 28 at 8:30am. This is your last chance of the year to get in on it. The cost is free but donations are accepted. If you miss your chance for the open air classes, you might want to check out her indoor classes which start in September. For more information visit Lynn’s website at http://www.lynn.sites.toronto.com/.
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When does stress become toxic?
We all need a little stress in our lives. Some stress is necessary to give us the energy we need to deal with immediate problems, meet imminent deadlines, and face dangerous situations. This “Good stress”, in the right quantities, can be essential for living. But like everything else, it can be possible to have too much of a good thing.
Too much stress can be detrimental to our health. Here are some of the warning signs of having too much stress in our lives:
- sleep disturbances
- back or neck pain
- headaches
- stomach pain/problems
- weight gain or loss
- fatigue
- high blood pressure
- irregular heartbeat
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- cold, sweaty hands
- eczema, psoriasis
- jaw pain
- frequent illness
- nervousness, anxiety
- depression, moodiness
- irritability, frustration
- memory problems
- lack of concentration
- trouble thinking clearly
- feeling out of control
- substance abuse
- overreactions
It is important to recognize the symptoms of stress and learn what to do about them. If you have quite a few of the symptoms listed above, then it is definitely time to do something about it. Stress can be managed and kept at safe levels.