Stress Less: Massage works, but why?
Try to find a person who doesn't enjoy a massage to relax. You'd be hard-pressed. Of all the stress-relieving techniques out there, massage is my absolute favorite. Certainly, massage relieves muscle pain and soreness, but it appears to be most popular for stress relief. It's effectiveness is largely due to the fact that manipulating the muscles releases endorphins, the brain's natural opiates, which encourages a feeling of well being and confidence. Studies show massage can be helpful for various ailments. But when looking at the list, one can't help but notice many of the benefits involve the mind more than the body. Consider the following from a Mayo Clinic article:
Life Fitness is a process of continuous growth: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Need motivation and guidance to facilitate positive changes in your life? Ask Life Fit Expert Laura Lewis!
When you think of cheese, do you you think happy thoughts? A strange question, I know, but I promise that the apparent oddness of my question will fade after hearing why I asked it.
This is just a teaser -- a more complete story will be on newsstands on Friday -- but
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Gyms and fitness centers may not be for everyone. But they are convenient locations for working out -- think weights, treadmills, rowing machines, yoga, exercise classes, trainers, scales, and locker rooms with showers. They also can be pretty intimidating for newbies. 
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Ready for another "I eat everything and don't gain any weight" story? Here's one, by Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker.
When my nephew was away at college he became very depressed. Frighteningly depressed. It took the whole family by surprise at first because we didn't really see it coming. He had friends, he had just switched his major to something that suited him much better. He had a great apartment and had just gotten a dog. It seemed like everything was going well for him. But then, wisely, he drove to his parent's house one night and told them he needed help. And he did. While he seemed fine over the phone, what the family didn't know was that hours away at school he wasn't seeing any of his friends, he wasn't going to classes, and he was too depressed to even let his dog outside much of the time. After his depression was out in the open we were all able to look back and see the signs that we missed. We thank goodness for the strength he had and for his ability to ask for help. And we've all kicked ourselves a bit for not seeing the red flags that were right in front of us. Had we seen those warning signs, we could have helped him earlier. Today my nephew is doing wonderfully; he's graduated from college and landed an awesome job. Managing his clinical depression is a part of his daily life; he understands his triggers and manages his symptoms well.
When I get stressed or anxious, my mood is quickly reflected in my son's behavior. He's more likely to be disrespectful and to break rules when I'm stressed. Of course, if I don't break the cycle it creates an awfully vicious circle, because his behavior can make me more stressed. But I just try to remind myself (sometimes more successfully than others) that I am the parent and therefore should be at least a tad more emotionally mature than my 10-year-old.
The college years are fun, but they certainly can be stressful. Some kids are away from home for the first time, others are struggling to support themselves. Students are trying to juggle class loads, part-time jobs, and an often a very busy social scene.
549 men and women were quizzed to rate their levels of jealousy. The Spanish and Dutch researchers found that while most men felt insecure about rich, attractive, and strong rivals, but
I am a worrier who comes from a long line of worriers, and so therefore worry is a part of my daily life. Because I know that stress can negatively affect my health, I work very hard to keep anxiety in check. I try to balance the amount of risk with the amount that I worry. So, for instance, when I started allergy shots a few months ago, I was very worried I'd have an allergic reaction. But once I talked to my doctor and learned that the risk is real, but small, I tried to reduce the amount of energy I put into worrying about it accordingly.
Surprised about that headline? So was I. 











