Atlas Twp.-Heading back to work or school. Dealing with the holiday aftermath. Experiencing health and lifestyle changes. Waiting to hear from loved ones in the military.
Whether stress-triggers are major, or of the everyday variety, no one is completely immune.
What is stress?
Circumstances shouldn’t be considered stress, says Alan Rutledge, coordinator of the cardiac rehab program at Genesys Health Park. Stress is how an individual responds to certain triggers.
‘The heart speeds up, muscle tension increases,? said Rutledge.
The human body reacts physically to stress to get away from danger.
‘The problem is,? said Rutledge, ‘in modern society there are lots of triggers, such as getting caught in traffic and being late for an important meeting, or a fight with your spouse.?
The surge of energy resulting from stress-triggers doesn’t help one respond appropriately to today’s stress, says Rutledge, who teaches stress management to cardiac patients through a ‘Balancing Your Life? Genesys program.
Gaining focus can help one cope, says Rutledge.
Maureen Bosker agrees. As proprietor of the Yoga in the Woods yoga center on Hegel Road in Atlas Township, Bosker shares the positive affect yoga has on her own life. With the subtle fragrance of incense wafting through the firelit studio, participants are free to relax and change their focus.
‘It’s a rare opportunity you have to just focus on one thing, primarily breathing,? said Bosker.
People seek out yoga for a variety of reasons, but Bosker feels stress management is one of the best.
‘I’ve always felt the physical benefits are just a side effect of yoga,? she
said.
‘I have a mother of triplets who says she can’t live without it.?
There are common-sense approaches to preventing stress reactions, says Jeff Stonerock, pastor of Victory World Outreach Center in Goodrich.
‘Say no to things sometimes. People busy their lives too much, put too much on their plates,? said Stonerock, stressing that faith in God is an important way to manage stress.
‘The Bible says, ‘Cast all your cares on God,? he said. ‘When we do what we know to do, then God does what we can’t do.?
Getting quiet is also important, says Stonerock, who enjoys time in the woods hunting.
‘Ask my wife with our four kids. Sometimes she says, ‘I just need to be alone.? I say ‘Go honey, go,? and it helps,? he said. ‘When you quiet yourself and look at the rest of the world, you realize…we lose perspective easily.?