The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

On National Relaxation Day,  take a moment  to enjoy life

For the birds, or at least for bird watchers
5/26/12
Uncorked book club enjoys new authors
5/26/12
Dayton Visual Art Center’s auction by the numbers
5/26/12
Wowed by the power of a brain
5/26/12
“Coupon Kid” gets “Extreme”
5/26/12
> More lifestyle headlines

By Meredith Moss, Staff Writer 2:57 PM Friday, August 14, 2009

Have you been too harried to note that National Relaxation Day is today, Aug. 15?

In honor of that special day, we’ve come up with some suggestions for unwinding, none of them very costly.

Get out and walk. “Hiking through the woods, coasting on a bike down one of our recreational trails, taking a leisurely paddle down a river corridor or just sitting on a bench and enjoying nature are great ways to use any park independently,” says Valerie Hunt of Five Rivers MetroParks.

Park programs can also reduce stress. Did you know that at 2 p.m. each Saturday, a group of hikers gather to enjoy a brisk walk through one of the area parks. It’s free. Call (937) 278-2623 for details.

We all know that contact with animals often relieves stress. How about a Paw Walkers Lunch Time Walk? Each Friday at  11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., the Humane Society of Greater Dayton brings adoptable dogs to RiverScape in downtown Dayton so anyone can take them for a walk. Evening walks are also scheduled.

Learn about the nature and history of Hills & Dales during a relaxing walk every Wednesday through the Adirondack-style park. Call (937) 277-4178 for more information.

Yoga is often recommended for stress relief and incorporates a series of poses, breathing and relaxation. A variety of yoga classes in the Miami Valley are offered at community centers, health clubs and private studios. At the Vandalia Recreation Center, the drop-in price for a 50-minute yoga class is $4, less for a series.

“We are incessantly thinking, about the past, about the future, the ‘woulda’s, coulda’s, shoulda’s’ and the dreaded ‘what-if’s’ in life,” said Kim Zehnder, who teaches yoga privately and at the Vandalia center. “When you come to yoga, you learn the practice of being present in the moment – this is a first step on the path to becoming more relaxed.”

Working with the breath in yoga is another very effective tool for calming the mind, she said.

“Physiologically, this deep breathing is relaxing and calming because it increases the flow of oxygen, which feeds the muscles, organs and tissues,” Zehnder said.

Yoga instructor Debbie Stirsman of Inner Dance Yoga Center in Oakwood says you definitely don’t have to be a pretzel to enjoy yoga.

“At the beginning of my classes, I do something called ‘organic movement’ that affords people the opportunity to lie on their backs, unhook and relax after coming right from work,” she said. “At the end of the class, we have ‘Savasana’ or ‘corpse pose,’ and that’s lying on your back for deep relaxation.”

And what’s more relaxing than a massage? If the $65 to $80 spa price is prohibitive, consider one of the area massage schools, where students offer 50-minute massages in a pleasant atmosphere. At the Dayton School of Medical Massage in Kettering, you’ll pay $35. The Serenity Spa at Miami Jacobs Career College has three locations: downtown Dayton, Springboro and Troy. You’ll pay $30 for an hour. Tipping at massage schools is prohibited. Save more at the two schools by buying four gift certificates for $100.

Pamper yourself. The Miami Jacobs Troy and Springboro campuses also offer cosmetology services including facials, manicures and pedicures. Prices range from $8 for a basic manicure to $20 for a spa pedicure. A facial runs $15 and up.

Area beauty schools also offer great deals. Possibilities include Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology, both north and south of Dayton; Regency Beauty Institute in Centerville and Carousel, with five area locations.

Relax at home. Sit on your deck with a glass of lemonade and enjoy summer. Read a good book! Write in your journal.

If you’re spiritually inclined, spend some time reflecting, praying, meditating. Enjoy!

Share this article