Relaxation is a state of mind

Letter from the editor

While local students were seeking out their natural "highs," or adrenaline rushes, as part of Red Ribbon Week, I was looking for the opposite – some illusive relaxation.

Teas, baths and a little extra sleep didn't seem to be helping, so I sought new routes to de-stressing.

I'm told relaxation can be simple and you can practice it at your desk at work.

Marsha Ehrlich, of Healthy Dynamics Therapeutic Massage, tells me that a breathing exercise fixating on filling your stomach helps move the energy focused in your head while you are working through the rest of your body. Putting your hands on your belly helps you concentrate on that technique.

I met Ehrlich during a 45-minute massage I had received as a gift.

The massage itself was relaxing, but it's difficult to take that feeling with you once you leave, at least for me.

I tried another local approach to de-stressing last week for the first time – a walk on the Swan River Nature Trail. The 4-mile round-trip jaunt is currently filled with images of snowy peaks and the golden tamaracks peppering the green of the hillsides.

And I wasn't the only one finding solace in the view and stretching my legs - many locals and their dogs were out on the trail as well.

But, again, once I got home and started thinking about the next day, the tension came rushing back.

I've come to the conclusion through my searching this week that relaxation, though inhibited by external factors, must be a state of mind. No amount of walking or herbal tea is going to change that - though those temporary reliefs are still valuable, or, at the very least, enjoyable.

So, that's what I'm working on next, if I can only find the time.

This week

If you are looking for a little break from your hectic schedule, you may find it in the wide array of Halloween festivities going on this weekend. Check out C2 for details.

-Jasmine Linabary