Essential Need

You probably know about the “fight or flight,” or stress response. But what about the “rest and digest,” or relaxation response? When we hold on to stress and tension, our bodies go on high alert, elevating blood pressure, raising respiration rates and releasing a cascade of chemicals that, over time, can lead to a host of maladies – from heart disease to diabetes and cancer.

But when we trigger the relaxation response, we lower blood pressure, rest frazzled nerves and enhance our immune system. We tend to think that relaxing and relieving tension are luxuries. If we value our health and longevity, they are necessities.