Photo Information Patience Collie participated in the workshop to learn tips for relaxation and stress relief. The military spouse and mother of three attended the course to learn tips for relaxation and stress relief. Photo by Ida Irby Download Details Share Warriors at Ease gives a leg up on stress relief 7 Apr 2016 | Ida Irby Marine Corps Base Quantico PRINT SHARE Marine Corps Base Quantico -- For Marines and sailors in need of stress relief, the Warriors at Ease workshop on March 23 provided simple relaxation tools fit for warriors. The six-hour workshop at Barber Physical Activity Center included guided meditation, discussion of personality traits, stress-relief focused yoga and controlled breathing instructions, which are used to de-stress and increase relaxation.The course started with a dialogue about individual temperament and how it impacts the way attendees managed stress. They also discussed how understanding the temperament of others may help to cope with work and family stress.Seaman Paolo Francisco, Naval Health Clinic Quantico, and his spouse Hope Francisco, were one of two couples who attended the class. He and his wife learned to assess their temperament and control stress through applying The Four Lenses, Stress 101 and other group exercises. Service members and their families often struggle with anxiety or low energy. Rebecca Childress, prevention specialist for the Family Advocacy Program, suggested a breathing technique called Alternate Nostril Breathing. To start they used the thumb and pinky of their dominate hand. It took a few tries to perfect the new skill, where nostril breathing is used to energize and provide balance. Another period of instruction included nutrition, because many people make bad choices with food while under stress. It is important to learn how to incorporate good nutrition into your lifestyle. Lauren King, Simper Fit registered dietitian, gave a word of caution against the over-consumption of food high in sugar and fat. “An unhealthy diet may aggravate the stress response versus help stress. Instead, eat foods with Omega 3 fatty acids, magnesium, vitamin C and complex carbohydrates.”“Under stress we tend to undereat or overeat. Whereas undereating reduces glucose to the brain and causes unclear thinking, overeating causes stress in the long-term, especially in a military environment where body composition standards are important,” said King. According to the instructor Childress, people store stress in their bodies and by going through the movements in Yoga, stress can be reduced or eliminated. To nix the tension of the day, the course ended with dim lighting, aromatherapy and Yoga. Marine Corps Community Services of Quantico offers more stress management workshops at Little Hall. For more information on reducing work and family stress call 703-784-2570. “Six weeks of stress management can seem stressful,” Childress joked after suggesting additional courses. “In life there will always be stress, but without balance and stress management there is seemingly no end in sight.”— Writer: iirby@quanticosentryonline.com More Media Warriors at Ease gives a leg up on stress relief Photo by Ida Irby Download Details Share Tags Barber Physical Activity Center , stress-relief , Warriors at Ease , Marine Corps Base Quantico