Now that the lazy days of summer have come to an end, your schedule is probably kicking into overdrive—and that all-too-familiar feeling of stress is setting in. To the rescue: From October 15 to 21, hundreds of spas will offer up to three of their signature treatments for $50 as part of National Spa Week's Fall 2012 Event. (Talk about a steal!)
Some locations fill up, so register on SpaWeek.com now to book that massage or facial. In honor of the week, we're giving two lucky winners each a $50 Spa & Wellness Gift Card from Spa Week. To enter, just answer this question in the comments section: What's your go-to move to beat stress?
Read the official rules.
From: Amy | 9/21/12 at 12:24 pm
Law & Order - someone on that show is always having a worse day than I am!
From: Faith | 9/21/12 at 12:26 pm
Deep breathe. It's absolutely free, accessible anywhere, and it can take as long as I want.
From: Tiffany | 9/21/12 at 12:31 pm
A cup of peppermint hot tea and a little meditation. I can sit outside and enjoy the nuture or enjoy the inside warmth.
From: jennifer | 9/21/12 at 12:32 pm
Working out helps me de-stress, especially doing yoga. Anytime I can take an hour to disconnect from the stress-filled world to focus on feeling physically better improves my mood and my attitude towards others.
From: Melanie Albert | 9/21/12 at 12:32 pm
I beat stress with my yoga practice, weight training, cardio and walking routines. And, love the simple pleasure of preparing my matcha tea, which I'm enjoying right now.
From: Lisa Severson | 9/21/12 at 12:34 pm
A walk around the block on a sunny day!
From: Tiffany | 9/21/12 at 12:34 pm
Nature - walking and enjoying where others rarely touch - very peaceful. Nature's beauty has a calming and relaxing effect; almost like magic.
From: Sara | 9/21/12 at 12:36 pm
Some good music and a fast walk or run in the woods.
From: Jacquie | 9/21/12 at 12:36 pm
Has to be a bubble bath with a good book.
From: Jen F. | 9/21/12 at 12:38 pm
A great sweat session. Exercise is my cure-all!
From: Nita | 9/21/12 at 12:40 pm
A nice hot bath!
From: Breanna | 9/21/12 at 12:41 pm
Yoga!
From: Amy Cheng | 9/21/12 at 12:42 pm
I'm a gym rat. I go to different gyms a day and can stay there for hours. My friends call me the "buffet" cuz I like to do a little bit of everything e.g. Zumba, uJam, TKB, KO, cardio KB, body combat, body bump, CX Worx, and swimming.
From: Jeannette | 9/21/12 at 12:47 pm
Child's pose
From: Katie Caputo | 9/21/12 at 12:55 pm
A hot shower with aromatherapy body wash. And if that doesn't work, I add hot tea and classical music!
From: Sheila | 9/21/12 at 1:04 pm
I must get into the woods atleast once a week and on the evenings that I get a break from being Mom I race to the woods after work and go for a strenuous hike alone or with a gf! Sometimes I will hug a tree while I am at it!!! Feeds the soul!
From: Sandy Heath | 9/21/12 at 1:07 pm
Walking helps...especially if there is a waterfront view!
From: MEl | 9/21/12 at 1:11 pm
A hot cup of herbal tea or a few deep breaths in child's pose
From: Ashley | 9/21/12 at 1:13 pm
A good massage or slow-stretch yoga are good stress busters for me.
From: Tina Knezevic | 9/21/12 at 1:41 pm
Planting and cleaning in my fabulous Shangri-La garden relieves my stress and gives me peace and serenity!
From: Monika T | 9/21/12 at 1:55 pm
I recently picked up Donna Eden's "Energy Medicine" book in which she has some great suggestions for how to deal with stress by managing the flow of energy in your body. I've started doing some of the super easy techniques (like tapping certain points on your body or just placing your fingers over certain meridian points) she recommends, as well as paying attention to my breath, and have found that it really does help to calm me down when I feel stressed.
From: Linda | 9/21/12 at 2:35 pm
Walking or exercising at the gym.
From: Young | 9/21/12 at 2:36 pm
Spending time with loved ones.
From: Mo | 9/21/12 at 2:50 pm
Stress! What is that! Hahaha - I host a party for my girls to get them on the same page to relax & have some laughter. Pamper night, mojios night, cookie exchange or just come over for brunch & hang out.
From: Kristen | 9/21/12 at 3:04 pm
Zumba!
From: CarolynH | 9/21/12 at 3:22 pm
My go-to move to beat stress is a nap after a steamy shower. I wear an eye mask while napping to block out light. I also play soothing nature sounds to block out any distracting noises.
From: Stacy poynter | 9/21/12 at 3:33 pm
My go-to move to beat stress is deep breathing in my pool with stretching yoga moves under the sunshine.
From: Dawn | 9/21/12 at 4:41 pm
Deep belly breathing with a cup of peppermint green tea....and then a watch-free run in the woods!
From: Megan | 9/21/12 at 5:17 pm
Running in the rain!
From: Roxanne | 9/21/12 at 5:46 pm
Treating myself to a manicure is a great stress reliever.
From: Andrea S | 9/21/12 at 6:32 pm
Coffee & dessert, either by myself with soothing music, or with a friend.
From: GracieP | 9/21/12 at 8:26 pm
Pray
From: Tida | 9/21/12 at 9:04 pm
Yoga early in the morning.
From: Emily K. | 9/21/12 at 9:41 pm
I love to put on comfy clothes and relax in front of the tv - I rarely get to do that, so it's super nice when I can!
From: mich chan | 9/22/12 at 12:43 am
hitting the pavement running
From: Jamie Schwenn Herda | 9/22/12 at 2:38 am
Deep breathing and a good book.
From: Joanne Gregory | 9/22/12 at 2:38 pm
A long petting session with my best dog.
From: Eleanor | 9/22/12 at 5:11 pm
Spending time laughing with friends and snuggling with my pug.
From: Stephanie | 9/22/12 at 5:36 pm
I work off the stress with a little sweat at the gym. I love to take fitness classes or work it off with a long run.
From: Lauren Frymus | 9/22/12 at 6:23 pm
Making a hot cup of apricot vanilla white tea (which to me feels like a hug from the inside) and calling my mom, or writing about it. Anxiety was the root of my eating disorder. Writing, talking and yoga all helped me keep myself sane and take care of myself again.
From: Shana S | 9/24/12 at 1:54 am
My way of defeating stress involves one of two things: a.) knitting/crocheting, which I find incredibly cathartic, or b.) restorative yoga--nothing beats deep breathing while hugging a bolster pillow!
From: Rebekah S | 9/24/12 at 7:51 pm
My main ways to beat stress are yoga and meditation. I make time for both in my daily activities. Yoga in the AM to get me in a calm, positive state of mind for the day. Meditation in the evening to breathe out the day's stresses.
From: Denise | 9/24/12 at 11:02 pm
Start up computer. Go to Youtube. Start the "Dance Along" playlist. Close the door so no one can see me flail around!
From: erin kim | 9/25/12 at 12:32 am
yoga, deep breathing and a dose of natural vitamin D - in the form of a nap on the wooden deck
From: Chelsea | 9/25/12 at 9:14 am
Cuddling with my dog, taking my dog for a walk, or taking her to the dog park.
From: Katy | 10/2/12 at 6:02 pm
Yoga
From: Emily | 10/3/12 at 2:55 pm
Foot rubs and beauty sleep!
From: Johnna H | 10/11/12 at 2:24 pm
Walking on the beach.
From: Joyce R | 10/21/12 at 2:26 pm
Get the best pedicure offered at your salon.
From: Eve H | 10/23/12 at 12:13 pm
Walking
From: katie | 10/23/12 at 12:14 pm
going for a walk on the ladybird trails in downtown austin. and snuggling with my kitten
From: christina | 10/24/12 at 1:31 am
working out