We had an hour-long stress management session at work today. The focus was on a person thinking mostly of the past and worrying about the future; thus generating stress. The key is to live in the future and enjoy every moment to the fullest. Then there were various techniques discussed on how to reduce stress. The four techniques discoursed to us are mentioned under. Clearly, the session was not to learn every technique in detail, but just to know them and acknowledge the significance of these techniques.

1. Laughter – Laughter inadvertently involves taking a deep breath, thus intaking more oxygen than normal, and exhaling negative energy inside the body while laughing out. Good thing is, laughter need not be spontaneous; but artificially induced laughter is equally effective. The body cannot distinguish between the two and hence both are equally effective.

2. Acupressure – By applying pressure to certain parts or points of the body, we can channelize positive energy to specific areas; and some of these points ensure that the energy is channelized such that it reduces stress. You just need to apply the right amount of pressure and for the right amount of time.

3. Pranayam – Pranayam is a set of breathing techniques, made so famous in India and even outside by Swami Ramdev of the Patanjali Yogpeeth. The key is the intake of oxygen in larger than normal quantities and thus produce positive energy in the body; and exhale the negative energy.

4. Meditation – Meditation is a way of expunging the negative energy from the body and in the atmosphere surrounding us and filling in the body with good, positive thoughts.

All these 4 therapies are proven the world over as the best to reduce stress. Having done Pranayam for some part of my life, I can say that it definitely helps. Others, I haven’t tried but believe them to be equally effective. It is for all the people to try and get the benefits out; and reduce the stress.