It's Fashion Flash Monday! - Moving Free With MirabaiMoving Free With Mirabai

Today, Fashion Flash is hosted by Maryl and Caryl co-founders of the Second Lives Club. Their insightful siteis meant to be your guide and support system as you reinvent yourself in the second half of life. An available resource.

The rest of us Fashion Flash bloggers have brought you updates in fashion, beauty, fitness, and lifestyle. Join the discussion and let us know what you think!

Holidays can be full of joy and also full of stress. How do we center ourselves when we feel stress building up?
How? Relax. That’s what my first yoga teacher used to say when I was all bent up in the pretzel pose with a grimace on my face. And, like that meditation you just did, it actually worked. Once I was able to relax, I was stress-free even in the pretzel pose.

Seriously, daily conscious relaxation exercises can make real difference in the way your body responds to stress. Dr Herbert Benson coined the phrase “relaxation response” in his book by the same name in 1975.

Since then he and others have conducted numerous studies, including a recent one at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind/Body Medicine, that have detailed the body’s intricate positive response to conscious relaxation exercises. In a nutshell, the relaxation response has the opposite effect of fight-or-flight. It engages the parasympathetic nervous system to counteract the effects of stress. You experience a feeling of deep relaxation and well being. And if you practice relaxation regularly you’ll feel better and help yourself avoid those stress related health issues. That’s how we get rid of chronic stress.

Here is a Mini Relaxation Video