Feelgood - Irish Examiner

TERAPROOF:User:margaretjenningsDate:10/03/2010Time:15:11:20Edition:12/03/2010FeelgoodXH1203Page:6Zone:XH6The Yantra Mat isthe latest stressreduction productto hit the market.TanyaSweeney putsit to the testXH - V1LIKE Jordan, cellulite and Twitter,stress is an ever-present and inescapablepart of modern living. Insmall doses, stress can be quite manageable,even handy — it helps put a fire under ourfeet, enabling us to get things done. But lifeis moving along at breakneck speed, and wedon’t get much of a breather between onestressful period and the next.Between financial worries, a slew of deadlines,a hectic social life and everything elsethat comes with a busy lifestyle, I’m certainlyfeeling the crunch. In fact, I can’t recall thelast time I had a truly stress-free day. Thephysical symptoms of stress are fast catchingup with me: sleepless nights, a fuse that’sshorter than KylieMinogue, a smatteringof tell-tale spots.We’ve been advised todo a lot of strangethings in the quest of astress-free life: drinkcertain teas, use reiki, oreven talk to ourselves inthe mirror. But the latestbizarre weapon in the battle against stress— a mat not dissimilar to a bed of nails —takes some beating.The Yantra Mat is made with 210 spikedflowers, and on first impression, looks likeno-one’s version of a comfortable experience.Yet it works on the principle of acupressureand Chinese medicine. According to the lawsof acupressure, you essentially kick-start yourbody’s natural curative abilities by providingpressure on the back at over 8,800 points.“When acupressure points are stimulated,the muscles relax and oxygen flows betteraround the system,” explains stress managementconsultant Sarah Bird. “Because of that,you get a sense of wellbeing. It helps to energisethe body.”At the recent Yantra Mat’s launch inDublin its PR women are suitably effusive.“I’ve never slept better,” exclaims one. “I layon it facing down recently, and my stomachupset was gone within 20 minutes,” quips another.In Sweden, where the Yantra Mat is alreadypopular, 96% of users also experienced positivebenefits — 41% of those surveyed experiencedbetter sleep, 45% noted an improvementin their wellbeing.But is this just PR piffle, or are theseYantra Mat users onto something? Time tofind out.At first, the mat is hard to touch — theflower-shaped spikes almost graze my handwhen I pick it up (stress level on a scale ofone to 10... about a gazillion). Yet once I putit on the floor my body weight is distributedonto it, it feels peculiarly manageable. Notexactly comfortable, but not as painful as Ithought it might be.After 20 minutes, I’m certainly feelingmuch less stressed. In fact, I can feel an odd,energising sensation rippling through myback and limbs. But, I wonder, does relaxationhappen simply because you’re takingtime out of your schedule to do nothing?“Taking 20 minutes out of the day forFeelgoodPLACE MAT: Tanya Sweeney using the Yantra Mat, an acupressure mat which is believed to relieve aches and pains, stress, low energy and tohelp with sleeping more comfortably. Picture: Maura HickeyWhen you’re FLAT OUTyourself is a great thing,” says Bird. “Butyou’ll find that if you simply lie on the floorwithout it, you’ll notice a difference.”The next day, I decide to try the mat againwhile lying on the sofa watching America’sNext Top Model. After accidentally driftingoff to sleep for 30 minutes, I wake to findTyra slaying the dreams of another younghopeful. But rather than be groggy andgrumpy, as is my normal fate after a daytimenap, I am alert and refreshed. I sit down towrite an article that I’ve been putting off fordays, and am pleasantly surprised to find thatI’m focused and sharp.After a week of using the mat, the deadlines,dinner invites and to-do lists are stillcoming in thick and fast. However, I’venoticed one small change — I am sleepingbetter. Previously, I had been suffering a 4amshowdown with the bedside clock, but now Iam sleeping right through the night.I’m still experiencing moments of stress and■ Proteins maintain and strengthen thebody’s muscles, and this goes a long waytowards fighting stress. Take 3,000mg ofvitamin C per day to help maintain ahealthy nervous system while understress. B-vitamin supplementscan also strengthen your nervoussystem whether you’re alreadydepleted by stress orstoring up for an onslaught ofstressful circumstances.■ Sex releases endorphins (thebrain’s feelgood hormone) andthe chemical oxytocin, whichcreates a feeling of wellbeing.FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010panic — the mat hasn’t been able to turn meinto a serene yogi just yet — but I look forwardto the simple act of taking time out todo nothing but lie still and breathe.“People are stressed about family, relationshipsand losing their jobs, and they’ve lostconfidence in their abilities,” says Bird.“Some stress happens when we feel hopelessand helpless. When you’re overwhelmedyour stress response kicks in. When this happensthe brain releases the hormones cortisoland adrenaline. But when we’re constantlyunder stress we’re releasing cortisol all thetime, and it can damage the immune system,making us weakened.”All this means that stress can manifest itselfin many physical forms. It can raise bloodpressure, suppress the immune system, increasethe risk of heart attack and stroke,contribute to infertility, and speed up theageing process. Long-term stress can evenrewire the brain, leaving us more vulnerable■ Exercise also creates an endorphin rush, allowingour body to externalise and releasefrustrations by calming the nervous system.■ A wind-down bottle of wine sounds greatin theory, but it places the body undereven more stress afterwards.The liver and nervous system areunder attack as alcohol depletes VitaminB in the body.■ Aromatherapy oils like lavender,lemon, rose and peppermint areknown for their calming properties.Put a few drops on a tissue and inhaleor add some drops to boilingto anxiety and depression. Cortisol is alsostored in the abdomen and turns to sugar,which explains why many stressed peoplecarry the telltale roll of fat around their middle.“The first thing to look out for is disturbedsleep patterns,” advises Bird. “You also startto get tension in your neck and get regularheadaches. In more extreme cases you start toget stomach problems.“You’d be surprised how many people forgetto breathe when they’re stressed,” smilesSarah. “You need to stop in the middle ofyour routine and do it regularly throughoutthe day. Drinking lots of water too keepsyour brain hydrated and in good working order.”■ The Yantra Mat is available from leadinghealth stores, pharmacies and sporting outletsfor 49.90. See www.yantra.ie for more information.Help yourself to some relaxation timewater to scent a room.■ Certain herbs are lauded for their relaxingproperties, among them valerian,kava kava and ginseng. These are availablefrom health food shops nationwide.■ Herbal teas suchas green tea andchamomile tea areloaded with antioxidants,which combatthe effects ofenvironmentalstress like pollution.