2-Minute Travel Tension Tamer

The next time the aggravations of taking a trip -- long lines, cramped seats -- have you stressed, try this relaxation exercise from Sandy Paton, a yoga instructor and author of The Stress-Free Traveler (McGraw-Hill, 2005).

1. Make a fist with your right hand and cover it with the fingers of your left so your thumbs are parallel and against each other.
2. Keeping your eyes slightly open, bring your hands to your face. Inhale through your nose and slowly exhale through your mouth, blowing gently into the space between your thumbs.
3. Continue for three to five minutes. "This helps focus your breathing, which slows your heart rate and calms you down," says Paton.

Originally published in Fitness magazine, December 2005.