February/March 2018 73
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: ALICE CUMMINGS; SHUTTERSTOCK; LIZ KRAFT
REACH OUT
AND TOUCH
Touch releases hormones
that combat stress. Massages
decrease stress hormone
cortisol while increasing
happy hormones serotonin
and dopamine, instantly
improving your mood. Hugs
also have a similar effect,
with the additional boon of
strengthening interpersonal
relationships. Whether you
decide to splash out on a
splurge-worthy spa or get
a good friend to give you a
squeeze, it’s a good idea to
embrace the magic of touch.
BLUE OAK RANCH RESERVE,
MOUNT HAMILTON
GET BACK
TO NATURE
It’s easy to get caught up in
the urban grind and lose sight
of the fact that we are part of
nature, not separate from it. In a
Stanford study, 38 Northern Californians
(18 women and 20 men)
were split up into two groups,
one which took a 90-minute walk
in nature and another that did
the same walk in the city. The
nature walkers reported having
fewer negative thoughts about
themselves after the walk than
beforehand, while the urban
walkers reported no change.
Connecting with nature stimulates
the senses and has been
shown to help with high blood
pressure, stress and anxiety.
NAMA-STAY
HAPPY
Just two one-hour yoga classes a
week can help reduce fatigue and
boost mood. Yoga is renowned for
increasing flexibility and augmenting
overall fitness. Now there is ample
scientific evidence proving the positive
effects of yoga for depression. It
increases the level of an antidepressant
neurotransmitter, GABA. Boston
University researchers found a 27
percent rise in GABA levels in a group
that practiced yoga, yet no change in
GABA levels in a second group that
read during the same time period. In
a separate study, yoga also improved
the vitality and disposition of men
and women more than walking.
YOGA CLASS
AT BREATHE
TOGETHER YOGA,
LOS GATOS