From the category archives:

Stress Management and Relaxation

Food For Thought Friday: Relaxed is Who You Are

by Stacey Shipman on July 30, 2010

Tension is who you think you should be.  Relaxation is who you are.  ~Chinese Proverb I came across this quote a few years ago and I haven’t been able to forget it.  I first read it at a time when presenting stress management programs was new for me.  I received good feedback from participants, but [...]

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After receiving positive feedback from participants in a recent stress relief and relaxation workshop I presented, I thought I share an audio version of the exercise here. One of the participants told me about her chronic neck and shoulder tension and that after the exercise she “felt and heard a muscle release just like at [...]

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Have You Stretched Yourself Lately?

by Stacey Shipman on July 22, 2010

When was the last time you stretched yourself?  Went beyond the boundaries of your “comfort zone”, into a place that may scare you, even a little bit?  Do you avoid that growth or embrace it? Last weekend I participated in the Falmouth Triathlon, a sprint distance race that includes a 3/10 mile swim, 9.25 mile [...]

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Stressed at Work? A Few Tips to Help You Out

by Stacey Shipman on July 13, 2010

Tory Johnson, founder of Women for Hire recently wrote a piece for Good Morning America on ABCNews.com called Stressed at Work? and of course it caught my attention. She offers some great suggestions including: Keeping a journal to identify how you’re feeling, what triggered you and how your body is responding (stomach ache? Headache? Shoulder [...]

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How to Be More Present & What Matters Most

by Stacey Shipman on July 6, 2010

Last week a young mom who attended my stress relief and relaxation workshop asked, “How can I be more present with my kids?” A question I hear more and more. One of the other women, a little older than the first, responded immediately with, “The only thing that matters is spending time with your children.  [...]

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If Stress is a Response, Do you know how you respond?

by Stacey Shipman on June 21, 2010

I spoke to a very close friend recently who has been going through a lot emotionally.  She’s also been sick more often than she’d like.  When I asked her whether she thought the illnesses could be stress related, she said, “I don’t think I’m stressed about these things.” I hear that response often when I [...]

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Stretch Break! For your wrists

by Stacey Shipman on June 16, 2010

Welcome to the weekly Stretch Break! this week for your wrists.  If you sit at a computer during the day, this is the perfect stretch break for you.  A quick, easy, painless tension release and stretch for your wrists. You don’t even have to leave your chair and it takes about 2 minutes!  Your wrists [...]

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Stretch Break! For your Face

by Stacey Shipman on June 9, 2010

Welcome back to the weekly Stretch Break! Today’s stretch is for your face.  Do you ever notice you clench your jaw or furrow your brow when you’re thinking or involved deeply in a project?  It’s important to relieve tension from the face to keep your skin smooth, and wrinkles away. Not to mention, it just [...]

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Random Inspiration and a Yoga Interview

by Stacey Shipman on May 26, 2010

My husband is involved with the Gestalt International Study Center (GISC) based in Welfleet Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  Taken from their website GISC is an educational nonprofit organization offering advanced professional training worldwide for leaders, consultants, coaches, therapists. As I walked past our fridge the other day I noticed a magnet from GISC and I wanted [...]

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Stretch Break! and A Request for Help

by Stacey Shipman on April 21, 2010

After a little hiatus, the weekly Stretch Break! is back.  Today’s stretch break is inspired from a post I read by Chris Edgar, of Work Consciously, where he describes how to do Eagle Arms in yoga.  I thought it would make a perfect video demonstration.  You can perform this move standing or seated.  I also [...]

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