Stressful Shopping Relief

By Sarah Bowen Shea

Shopping brings the temptation of overspending. Use this yogic breathing technique to calm your anxiety and keep your emotions from taking over.

No matter how hard you try, you’re never going to get rid of all the things that annoy you. In fact, trying to do that pretty much guarantees frustration.

But there is one tiny, silent hero on the harried horizon. Yoga can help you handle any anxiety-ridden scenarios. “There’s no question: Yoga practiced appropriately will have an impact on relaxing the mind,’’ says Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., associate professor in the department of behavioral science and director of the integrative medicine program at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. “With enough practice of breathing and meditation, one can call on that peaceful state at any given time.”  If you’re “given time” comes when you’re shopping, read on.

Stress Scenario:
Those Manolo Blahniks are calling your name

You're over the limit on your Visa Gold card but still hear yourself asking the store clerk whether they have that $600 top and $200 shoes in your size. "This is when your emotions are running you, and your head is up in the ether," Flora says. He recommends doing a specific form of pranayama (breathing): Focus on breathing both in and out through your right nostril, plugging up the left one by pressing on the side of your nose. Stay focused on breathing through the right nostril because then the breath goes to the left side of the brain--the logical side of your grey matter. Take as many deep, centering breaths as you need; 8 to 12 should do the trick. Doesn't help? Flora suggests a grounding Triangle pose in the dressing room. "And when all else fails, dash out of the store." We call that the I-Gotta-Get-Outta-Here pose.

Still feeling stressed? Use these real life tips to unwind from any situation.

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