Practicing even a few minutes per day can provide a reserve of inner calm.

We all face stressful situations throughout our lives, ranging from minor annoyances like traffic jams to more serious worries, such as a loved one's grave illness. We can't avoid all sources of stress in our lives, nor would we want to. But we can develop healthier ways of responding to them.

Following are six relaxation techniques that can help you evoke the relaxation response and reduce stress: