Take a deep breath... and relax! BT tells you how to calm the body and mind

 How often do you relax? And more importantly, do you know how to relax? Unfortunately, today, relaxation has become a luxury that we're increasingly finding tough to indulge in. With stress manifesting itself in alarming ways in our lives, our health takes the brunt of it all. The mind and body are like springs — stretch them as much as you like, but once you let go, they go back to their original position. But what happens when it is overstretched? You get burnt out. This is why relaxation is so essential. It helps the body bounce back. 

HOW TO RELAX 
Have you become short-tempered, irritable or depressed nowadays? These are signs of stress and it's time to identify the source. Most often, people don't realise that they are stressed. Once you identify the reason for your tension, you must goad your body and mind for relaxation. No matter how busy you are, finding time for yourself — even 30 minutes daily — will work wonders. 
RELAXING THE BODY 
Breathing exercises are one of the best ways to relax. Start with slow breathing and concentrate on each breath. This is one of the best ways to calm your body. Sit in a relaxed position, close your eyes, inhale through your nose and exhale through the mouth. Inhale deeply as you count to five and exhale slowly, again to the count of five. Practise this a couple of times daily to reduce stress. Take time out to cycle, swim or walk outdoors. Go in for a massage once a month to rejuvenate and relax your body. 
RELAXING THE MIND 
Negative thinking puts stress on the mind more than anything else. So, one of the best ways to relax is to think positively, especially in stressful situations. Think of what or who makes you happy and concentrate on the thought. The idea is to think of something that makes you feel calm. Practising yoga and meditation daily is one of the best ways to calm the mind.

Relax your mind by thinking positively and spending time with people you love