Relaxation Therapy for Acne and Body Health

Stress is one of the biggest precursors of acne, especially in adult women. Controlling stress can help reduce the release of the stress hormone cortisol, and therefore reduce the severity of the acne.

If you suffer from stress regularly, try and recognise the early symptoms and take action. Practicing relaxation methods can help prevent stress before it happens. Learning to relax more will not only help alleviate stress related acne, but will also help you cope with the psychological effects of living with acne.

Take time out of your busy life to just chill out, read a book, listen to music, have a bath, go for a walk, whatever it takes for you to relax and de-stress. If you take time to relax, you'll find yourself being able to do more in the rest of your day because you're not wasting time getting stressed out.

2 Relaxation Therapy Methods for Your Acne

1. Breathing exercises

Breathing exercises are crucial to many Eastern practices, including T'ai Chi and Yoga. They help focus the mind and get more oxygen into the blood stream. One of the signs of stress is rapid, shallow breathing.

Breathing exercises are easy to do, will help regulate the breathing and calm a stressed mind. Try and concentrate on breathing from the abdomen first, then letting the ribcage expand. This will ensure the deepest breaths are taken.

Try to practice the following breathing exercises in a warm place, wearing comfortable clothes and sit or lie in a comfortable position.

Alternate nostril breathing

Try the following several times a day:

1. Close the right nostril with your thumb,
2. Breathe out through your left nostril,
3. Breathe in your left nostril for a count of 4,
4. Close both nostrils and hold the breath for a count of 16,
5. Keep the left nostril closed and breathe out throught the right,
6. Breathe in the right nostril for a count of 4,
7. Close both nostrils and count to 16, and
8. Keep the right nostril closed and breathe out from the left.

Abdominal breathing

1. Lie on your back with feet turned outwards and palms facing the sky,
2. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth,
3. Breathe from the abdomen - place your hand on your abdomen if it makes it easier,
4. Breathe in and out slowly concentrating on the breath, and
5. Continue for at least 15 minutes.

Next Relaxation Method for Your Annoying Acne

2. Meditation

Meditation can be practiced by anyone. You don't have to be an expert, and can do it no matter how busy you are. In fact, by practicing meditation you will probably find you have more time to do everything because it concentrates the mind so you will waste less time.

Meditation helps improve concentration, calms the mind, increases self-awareness and the ability to cope with stress. There are many techniques used by meditators, find the one that suits you. The breathing exercise above can be used to help you meditate. Practice your method regularly and you will constantly improve. You can combine the techniques below by relaxing with breathing exercises first, then using concentration.

Simple mediation techniques

Breathing/listening

1. Find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed,
2. Close your eyes,
3. Repeat a breathing exercise for about 15 minutes,
4. Concentrate on the breath - make sure your lungs are completely empty before inhaling again,
5. Listen to the sounds closest to you - your own breath, your heart rate etc.
6. Gradually listen to the sounds that are further away - the trees outside, the cars on the street, and
7. Imagine you can hear sounds that are even further away - dogs barking a mile away, the distant ocean etc.

Concentration

1. Start with about 5 minutes of breathing techniques,
2. Close your eyes,
3. Concentrate on a single word,
4. Think of associated words,
5. When you can no longer think of associated words concentrate on the first word: Repeat it out loud if it makes it easier and Think of the shapes of the letters,
6. If other thoughts enter your mind concentrate on the word,
7. With practice, you will no longer need to think of associated words and will be able to concentrate on the single word throughout, and
8. Practice this for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening

Alternative concentration suggestions

Instead of concentrating on a single word, try visualisation or using a candle.

Visualisation

1. Visualise a pleasant scene such as a place you've been on holiday, and
2. Include colours, smells, sounds and other details.

Candles

1. Light a single candle
2. Sit and concentrate on the flame

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