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caption34 Unique ways to chill out and de-stress from around the globe. By Helen Foster STRESS LESS Try our short stress-less meditation with Dr Stephen Mackenzie. Download the free viewa app and hold your device over this page to listen. gm1213strp34 - 34 2013-10-15T17:23:17+11:00

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caption35 goodhealth. This June the UK launched a scheme called Books on Prescription. Thirty books that have been judged the best out there to tackle psychological issues like anxiety, worry and stress are now available via libraries. “There’s a huge unmet need for mental health services in the UK so this gives people something they can access easily,” says Debbie Hicks from The Reading Agency, who helped organise the project. Hicks says there’s also been a lot of interest from libraries in Australia. But until a local initiative starts here, the UK committee recommends these books: The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook by Martha Davis (New Harbinger, $31.95) and Manage Your Stress for a Happier Life by Terry Looker and Olga Gregson (Hachette Australia, $22.99). Library therapy in the UK Perspective check from the Ukraine Coffi n-maker Stepan Piryanyk has set up a nice little sideline in his shop – people visit him and spend an hour sleeping in coffi ns. Some do it because it’s more comfy than their bed, while others use it to reduce stress. “A lot of us lose perspective with stress but thinking about our mortality can bring it back,” says NLP trainer Chris Collingwood from Inspiritive. If lying in a coffi n doesn’t appeal, he suggests this time-shift exercise. “When something stresses you, ask, ‘Is this going to matter in 20 minutes, 20 days or 20 years?’ Most of the time, the answer is no.” The ritual of slipping out of work once or twice a day for coff ee and a small cake with friends is such a ritual in Sweden, it even has its own specifi c word, fi ka. “Swedes are conscientious workers but also feel it’s important to take all allowed time off to recharge and taking short breaks in the day helps do that,” says counsellor Ash Rehn from Stockholm’s Forward Therapy. That sounds okay, but what about the cake bit? Don’t they get fat? Ash says, “Sweden also has a

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caption36 Going barefoot in South Korea There are 22 barefoot walking paths in the South Korean capital Seoul alone. Lined with diff erent types of stone, they aim to stimulate areas in the feet, creating calm. In fact, studies by US researchers found regularly walking on cobblestones can even reduce blood pressure. Jenn Cooper from the Refl exology Association of Australia tells us there will soon be two barefoot walking paths in Australia – one in Brisbane that you can use now, and one in Launceston, Tasmania, which is almost fi nished. “They can feel a bit painful at fi rst, so wear socks until you get used to them,” she says. If you’re not visiting either of those areas soon, simply try walking barefoot on grass, sand or pavement. Many experts believe that simply connecting our feet directly with the earth is calming in itself. Seeing life through Spanish eyes A one-legged fi lm director may not sound like an obvious stress-busting guru but Albert Espinosa is no ordinary man. Having fought cancer between the ages of 14 and 24, losing his leg to the disease in the process, his unique take on what matters in life has spawned his bestselling book The Yellow World (Penguin, $19.99). Our favourite of his tips? “Find what you like looking at it in life and look at it.” That’s right, just spend a few minutes each day looking at something that makes you joyful or calm. The world will seem so much better after. Indian calming lollies It’s well known that the action of sucking helps calm us (a throwback to suckling on our mothers) but one Indian company has taken things further by putting a combination of Ayurvedic herbs into a sweet to be eaten during stress. They claim Ezenus, as it’s called, reduces the impact of stress on the body by 60 per cent in 30 days. Sadly, neither Ezenus or the exact mix of herbs it’s made from are available in Australia, but you can buy Bach Rescue Pastilles which calm you as y