...RUN, PRABHA, RUN

I experience varieties of stress-physical, mental, emotional-during a typical day at work. There are times when I am editing at the computer for 10 hours at a stretch. I also need to travel a lot. You can imagine the kind of stress levels this lifestyle inflicts on my body.

A good night's sleep really helps when I am tired. However, my favorite remedy is to go for a run. While running, I feel the pressures of the day dissolving and after a few kilometers, I am completely reinvigorated.

Stress is a matter of attitude. I view things in the right perspective. I distance myself from the situation that is causing stress, mentally but sometimes physically too by going into the mountains for a trek. I pause to think-is this incident really worth all this tension? Isn't there more to life than this? In the end, my faith that things will work out for the best gets reaffirmed.

All my life, I have worked in high-pressure media jobs with daily deadlines. When I feel something disastrous happening, I practice a yogic breathing exercise, nadishodhan, which increases oxygen supply to the brain. Of course, a quick-fix way that always works is to put a smile on my face. I can soon feel the smile spreading to the rest of my body.

My husband is a calming influence in my life, as is a wonderful support system of female friends. We share our experiences and problems and make it a point to always be there for each other.

Prabha Chandran, Editor Indya.com