Eight Ways To De-Stress From Around the World

People often think of stress as purely a mental health concern but if left unchecked, stress can be the root cause of many physical issues. For example, you may suffer from heartburn or acid reflux, and could turn to an acid reflux treatment like Rennie – but you might also be able to relieve the symptoms by reducing stress.

Throughout history people from all over the world have undertaken activities that, either consciously or unconsciously, have the benefit of relieving stress and helping them relax. Here are a few that are worth trying.

Forest Bathing

Put your trunks away. The Japanese practice of forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, involves short walks around wooded areas. Getting out into the great outdoors is usually a good tonic for stress (unless it’s blowing a gale or raining cats and dogs) but for stress relief purposes it’s important to be under a living canopy, so opt for a forest instead of fields – and make sure you don’t walk too fast. It’s about relaxing, not racing.

Hygge

Pronounced “hoo-guh”, this Danish concept is tricky to translate into English, but broadly speaking it refers to the feeling of calm and contentment you get from being in a cosy setting. Hygge can take many forms, and you can practise it solo and at any time of the year, but it’s perhaps best exemplified by the feeling you get sitting with friends in a warm, comfortable room when it’s dark and cold outside.

Yoga

It’s impossible to sum up the many different benefits that all the types of yoga can provide, but it’s certainly fair to say that yoga of all kinds can work wonders in relieving stress. The ancient Indian practice demands close focus, and control of your movement and breathing, both of which can contribute to relieving stress.

Gong Baths

When you think of relaxing music, the gong probably isn’t the first instrument that comes to mind, but trying a gong bath could well change that. You simply lie on a mat and relax into the vibrations from the sound waves caused by a gong being struck. The gong has been used as a healing instrument for thousands of years in east and southeast Asia, and there are now specialist centres offering gong baths all over the world.

Meditation

Meditation is another ancient practice that has its roots in Asian cultures but has now spread to every corner of the globe, to the point where smartphone app stores are now flooded with guided meditation and mindfulness apps. Meditation can take many different forms, but the most common version just requires you take a moment to forget your everyday concerns and control your breathing. You can do it in a group, by yourself, guided by an app or video, or even while listening to your favourite music. The important thing is that it is a break in the routine of your day. If you’re looking for a way to help relieve stress, trying just a couple of minutes of meditation each day is an easy and accessible first step.

Fika

There are many cultures all over the world that have a break in the day for a relaxing sit down with a hot drink. In Britain we used to have afternoon tea, and in parts of South America people gather to drink yerba mate communally. In Sweden, there’s the concept of fika – you take a break either by yourself or with someone else, and have a drink and a pastry. It’s a simple idea, but one that can have great benefits in terms of relieving stress, so make it your business to find time in your working day for fika.

Drumming Circles

Gathering as a group to play drums and other instruments is something that many cultures around the world have done for centuries, but it is perhaps most associated with djembe drumming circles in west Africa. The rhythm of the drumming and the sense of community that comes from being part of the circle can both be excellent stress relievers. You don’t need to be a master percussionist to join in, and you won’t have to go to Mali to find a group – there are many across the UK.

Indian Head Massage

Not all massages are relaxing – try a sports massage to help clear out the knots in your legs after a long run and you’ll be disabused of that notion – but Indian head massages are a well-established method of relieving the stresses of everyday life. They’re part of the Ayurvedic system of healing that has been practised in India for several thousand years. As well as helping to relieve stress, massaging the scalp, face, neck and shoulders can aid with neck and upper back pain caused by poor posture.

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