Sit comfortably in a chair and block the side of your right nostril with your right thumb. Breathe slowly and deeply through your left nostril for at least three minutes. (In yoga, your left nostril is considered to be one of three main energy flows in the body.) Make your breaths a little longer than normal, and pause after inhaling and exhaling. (Yoga RX, by Larry Payne, Ph.D., and Richard Usatine, M.D., Broadway Books, 2002)
To ease tension, look straight ahead. Then without moving your head, slowly circle your eyes up to the sky, to the right, down and to the left. Repeat three times to the right, then close your eyes for a few seconds. Open them and repeat four times to the left. (Vitality, February 2003)
Wash away stress with a long, hot shower. Really concentrate on creating a mini oasis. Enjoy the feel of the water, get mesmerized by the sound, and savor the scent of a cleansing gel or soap. (Busy, But Balanced, by Mimi Doe, Griffin Trade Paperback, 2001).
To relieve stress, pretend you're a rocking chair. Lie on your back, pull your knees up to your chest and wrap your arms around them. Tuck in your chin, then start gently rolling back and forth from your neck to your lower back. This eases tension by massaging the spinal nerves. (Pamela Sisson, Alternative-Medicine Therapist, Acton, MA, Vitality, February 2003)
Create a special place in your home that calms you when you come into it. (Dr. Andrew Weil)

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