When you feel tense all the time your body reacts in many different ways. Your muscles become sore and tight, you feel tired and you become moody. These physical and mental changes can wreck havoc on your life.

Stress effects people in different ways and no two people will deal with their stress in exactly the same way.  Your first step in reducing your stress is to simply become aware.  Notice how you are feeling and recognize what might be causing your stress.

The next step is to learn tools to help your body relax.  One of the best tools out there is simply learning to breath correctly.  This involves learning deep breathing techniques which you can perform anywhere. The minute you start to feel stressed out you start performing your exercises.

Another great tool for combating stress is massage.  Massage helps release any stress toxins in the body and helps you to relax.  Massage can be effective for a variety of other conditions as well, including arthritis, lower back pain, insomnia, headaches, anxiety, circulatory problems, and recovery from a sports injury.

By listening to your body you can hopefully reduce your stress levels and avoid any health complications that can be caused by too much stress.