SATURDAY STRENGTH: Dr. Oz's Suggestions for Relieving Stress

In the January 2012 issue of Prevention magazine, Dr. Oz shares tips for relieving stress. Here are a few:

1. Deep breathing can calm your brain and your stress response. When you exhale, suck your belly button toward your spine to push your diaphragm up so you empty all the air in your lungs. Then inhale deeply.

2. Flex your face to relieve any strain that you're holding above the neck - scrunch tightly for 15 seconds, then release. Repeat several times.

3. Move it! Any type of exercise will help reduce stress. Your body will love the endorphins, and you'll notice more energy and lower stress levels when you make activity a regular part of your life. If you're just starting, we recommend walking 30 minutes a day, every day. As you build up, you can integrate other routines such as resistance exercises or cardiovascular activities including swimming or cycling.