Health: De-stressing With Healing Arts

De-stressing with healing arts

By Barb Sieminski

Creative hobbies like teaching art and music, dancing, taking up a new activity, binge-watching Breaking Bad or Gilmore Girls, zip-lining, bird-gazing, etc. exercise the psyche as much as a physical workout does to eliminate the rigors of stress.

Too much stress can lead to body aches; inability to concentrate; getting sick more often; irritability; and being angrier than usual. Focusing on these creative gains can put one into a sunnier, healthier mood, ready to tackle the stress of everyday living again.

Some revitalizing benefits of these de-stressors include sleeping better, weight control, getting sick less often, less muscle tension, being in a better mood, and getting along better with family and friends.

Speaking from personal experience, both music, art (one of my college majors) and also gardening have helped me de-stress greatly, even though teaching private music lessons and riding lessons are in themselves de-stressors from the frequent deadlines I’m under. Playing my instrument, sketching in my drawing pad or even reading a magazine helps me escape. And in warm sunshine, I try to leave my computer for a joyful day of fishing.

One reader wrote in our daily newspaper her unique idea of dealing with the traumatic pandemic: “I work in a business where personal

Maureen Wilder, L.P.N. Nora Hernandez

contact is important but now have to work completely remotely and wonder if there are any creative ways to work in person? I have solved this by building an outdoor gazebo and am setting it up with fabric panels, a heater and soft lighting so my coaching & therapy clients have the option even in winter to see me in person.”

Maureen Wilder, L.P.N., one of my former retired riding students, uses her horse to escape an overload of mind-numbing medical decisions. She both rides and drives her mini-Belgian, Red, who is “very sweet, rides English, Western, drives, and is trail-trained. Riding last year was excellent therapy for my range of motion,” said Wilder, who is now disabled and still spends quality time with Red. Music of all genres is Faith Hilty’s go-to for stress release. An Environmental Services Tech at Fort Wayne Rehabilitation Hospital, Hilty has worked there for two years after being in food service approximately 25 years, and says, “My favorite is probably country; can’t pick out one artist in particular. I love so many of them. It’s just very soothing and calms me down tremendously.”

Cooking is Nora Hernandez’s option for stress remedy after detailing at a noisy car wash all day. In addition to finding peace in the kitchen, another plus comes when she picks up her 12-year-old daughter Jocy Garcia from school for some quality mom-daughter time. The two enjoy the rich bonding this affords.

“I love hearing what Jocy’s day has been like after a day in school or after piano lessons or tae-kwondo class,” said Hernandez. “It gives me a valuable insight to what is going on in her life.”

Let’s not forget, too, the tremendous benefits domesticated animals can bring to make our world right again, especially now when interaction with people is less frequent.

Jocy Garcia, after a grueling day of study, opts for either reading or for taking her new 2-year-old American Eskimo, Poppy, for a playful walk in the park.

Finally, we all have an option: Every day brings a choice: to practice stress or to practice peace. a

Jocy Garcia & Poppy

photos: shutterstock.com