Anxiety is a common mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide and it includes generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder and social anxiety disorder (SAD). It can be a debilitating condition that impacts all aspects of life. However, there are ways to manage anxiety and improve mental wellbeing.

Relaxation techniques are one of the most effective ways to manage anxiety. And there is a technique for everyone because let’s not forget that there are 2 categories of relaxation:

· Passive Relaxation involves activities that help you to take a break from your thoughts and worries. These activities can include things like listening to music, reading, taking a bath, or watching a movie.

· Active relaxation involves activities that help you to focus your attention on the present moment. These activities can include things like yoga, meditation, or tai chi.

Here are my top 5 recommendations based on what I've learned through my own experiences and my work as a professional, personal development course designer, Breathworks mindfulness teacher, and DRU yoga teacher.

1. Yoga: it is good for anxiety because it combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to promote relaxation and reduce stress. I teach Dru Yoga because it is gentle and flowing so it’s easier on the joints and muscles and has many modifications to make it suitable for everyone. I tend to do my own personal practice in the morning because no matter what my state of body and mind are in when I get out of bed, my physical energy and mood will have lifted by the end of my yoga practice.

2. Take a break before you break. Pace yourself. I take micro-breaks throughout the day particularly when I am doing a lot of digital work. I set my timer for 40 mins and take a break for 5-10 mins. During this time, I may bounce for a few minutes on my rebounder, stretch or simply go make a coffee and breathe.

3. Mindfulness: my secret power. I have found it to be the most powerful and useful tool for managing mental distress (anxiety, depression etc) and for physical discomfort (hypervigilance, pain etc). I do regular bodyscans to help release physical pain and tension in my body and regular mindful meditations to keep my mind less anxious, less fearful about the future and grounded in the present. Equally as important, I use a range of techniques to keep me mindful in my day.

4. Walking in nature: research shows that it reduces the production of stress hormones and increases the production of feel-good hormones. Additionally, walking in nature helps you to focus on the present moment and let go of your worries. I tend to pop out in the morning or just after lunch for at least a 20m walk in nature, even when it’s raining! It also helps raise vitamin D levels after a seemingly long, dark winter.

5. Progressive muscle relaxation: this is a technique that involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in the body. It is helpful for reducing muscle tension, which is a physical symptom of anxiety. It can also help to focus on the present moment and let go of worries, which can be helpful for managing anxiety. You Tube is a great source for recordings.