A study released by the University of Wisconsin-Madison shows the meditation produces long term lasting benefits including changes in the immune-system function as well as changes in the brains electrical activity.  Meditation has been used as a stress relaxation technique for many years now but the long term benefits for your brain and body are truly amazing.

The study looked at 25 employees where they underwent an 8 week meditation training program.  At the end of 8 weeks, flu shots were given to each participant and 16 other employees.  When they measured the level of antibodies still present in the meditators they found them to be significantly higher than the non-meditatiors.

When they measured the level of brain activity they found it to be 50 percent higher in the left frontal regions of the brain.  The left frontal region of the brain is associated with positive emotions, stress relief and reduction in anxiety panic attacks.

This form of natural stress relief should be practiced around 20 mins a day to gain maximum benefits.  The long term benefits include: improved clarity of thought, ability to handle stressful situations better, improved immunity to sickness improved health and an increase in the electrical activity in the brain.

Is your child stressed out? Some people think only adults experience stress, but it affects our children too. Helping your child to get through the tough times is easier when you have some targeted stress management tips to fall back on.

We often view our kids as happy-go-lucky beings without a care. But children can also experience stress with no idea of how to get immediate stress relief . Not only do they get anxious about things in their own young world– school, friends, peer pressure–but they also can be deeply affected by outside factors such as war, natural disasters and other unsettling world events.

In fact, the list of contributors to childhood stress can be quite long. Many stressors are the result of family problems, like divorce, a death or a parent's job loss but there are also less obvious triggers such as moving to a new city or the birth of a new sibling.

More on 5 Easy Stress Management Tips for Children

The benefits of exercise are endless.  Exercise helps you stay fit, healthy, gives you more energy and makes you feel more balanced. 

It’s of no surprise that exercise is also an excellent method for Stress Relief.  An article recently shown in the daily tribune explains why. 

This article discusses Therapist Clarence Wardell Jnr, where he mentions the many patients he treats for depression and anxiety. 

"Research shows that regular exercise reduces stress and anxiety symptoms," Wardell said.  He explained the release of endorphins triggered by exercise acts like an anti-depressant, what some people call "runner's high." There are many specific types of exercises that are even used as relaxation techniques for athletes.

What types of exercise are best for Stress Relief? 

There is many a stress relief exercise dependant on your level of fitness.  The key here is not so much in the physical activity, it more about the intensity and the consistency.  You must exercise at least 3 times a week to really experience the benefits.  If you are in doubt of your level of physical fitness you should consult you local doctor before attempting any type of physical activity.

If you were looking for tips on how to avoid stress at work than this is definitely one of them.

If you feel really pressed for time how about you duck off to your local gym during your lunch break for a quick work-out?  This can be used as a great stress management tip as it gives you an opportunity to release any built up stress you may experience during the day to prevent any long term stress build up and anxiety panic attacks. 

Remember, the benefits of exercise are really endless and can assist with depression, stress and anxiety.