De-stress your body

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That headache might not be the result of last night's glass of wine. And that stiff neck might not be down to a bad night's sleep. These are both physical symptoms of stress.

The good news is that you can ease these aches and pains and the source of stress with simple exercise.

Why does stress cause physical symptoms?

When we're stressed our body releases certain hormones that make our muscles tense up. The blood vessels contract, allowing less blood and oxygen to get to the tissues, and our heart rate and blood pressure rises.

This is why when we're stressed we get stiff, achy muscles, feel tired and generally under the weather - our vital organs are under strain.

If we suffer from stress over a long period of time and don't take time out to relax we can end up with long-term problems, such as chronic back pain and constant headaches.

What are the physical symptoms of stress?

Skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema and psoriasis can be signs of stress.
Digestive problems such as IBS are also triggered by stress, aches and pains such as backache, sore, stiff shoulders and headaches are also common signs of stress.

Viv Alves is a yoga teacher and wellbeing expert. She suggests the following exercises for reducing stress and tension in the body.

By Louise O'Connell