How does Stress affect Health...and Performance...and Relationships?

If you are stressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself but to your own interpretation of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any time. A chap called Marcus Aurelius Antonius said this in the 2nd century. Guess things haven't changed all that much. But what exactly is stress? What makes YOU feel stressed? Why do you feel stressed about it? Do you increase the intensity of the stress with your own beliefs and perceptions? And how does sress affect health? Stress can be defined as the emotional, physiological and psychological effects caused by a build up of either internally or externally generated mental pressure. Would you like to: Boost your immune system so that it can defend you against coughs, colds and viral other infections? Decrease your risk of serious diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, cancer & autoimmune disorders? Slow down the aging process and lengthen your life span? Enhance your creativity and logicical thinking skills so that you can work faster and more efficiently?  Improve your performance and relationships at work and at home? Sleep better, wake refreshed and once and for all get rid of that tired-all-the-time feeling? I have noticed that many people approach stress management by throwing themselves hook, line and sinker into one or more of the stress busting activities currently promoted by media. Very rarely does this approach actually work. If you don’t understand how does stress affect health and what causes your escalating stress levels, you can end up putting yourself under even more pressure. At the same time, you are conveniently ignoring the real problems in your life. All you have done is put yet another thing on your endless to do-list. Did you know that prolonged, unremitting and escalating stress can permanently damage your health? The answer to the question How does stress affect health? is rather alarming. Stress is proven beyond doubt to make people ill, and evidence is increasing as to number of ailments and diseases caused or worsened by stress. Stress is now known to contribute to heart disease; it causes hypertension and high blood pressure, and impairs the immune system. Stress is also linked to strokes, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), ulcers, diabetes, muscle and joint pain, miscarriage during pregnancy, allergies, alopecia and even premature tooth loss. Stress destroys your happiness, your relationships, you work satisfaction, your financial potential, your appearance, your confidence, your peace and your zest for life. So what can you do? Remove the stress, if you can. Or reduce its impact. Take a break or go on a holiday. You can’t change the world, but you can change yourself. Increase the quality and quantity of your coping skills. Even better, combine a relaxing break with a workshop that will arm you with all the tools and techniques to keep stress permanently at bay and allow you to finally get back in control of your life. I have created the Stress Buster workshops to free you from the suffocating pressure of stress. Margaretha uses her creativity, intelligence and high professional standards to present an excellent workshop, in a breath-takingly beautiful environment. As a result of attending the workshop, I listen and observe more carefully now, I notice my thoughts and feelings and I communicate better. I am more open and ready for new challenges. This has lead to great improvement in the quality of my private and professional life. Therefore, I highly recommend these workshops. Nicolas P, Preston Imagine a romantic and decadently comfortable XIIth century fortified farm, saturated with sunlight  during the day and cooled by the fragrant mountain breeze at night. At Alegria you will be able to unwind entirely, sleep deeply and soundly in the silent, star filled night, wake up refreshed and full of energy, breathe fresh, herb-scented air, drink pure, sparkling spring water, relax and rejuvenate body and soul, spend endless sun-drenched days exploring the unspoilt countryside, medieval fortified villages, bustling fruit and vegetable markets, brocante and antique fairs, fascinating museums and art collections... And as if this is not enough, at this stress management workshop you will discover new strategies and techniques that will facilitate implementation of the life changes you have decided to make to dramatically reduce your stress levels. Attending a residential stress relief workshop provides an integrated ‘in-your-own-time’ solution. It will provide you with the most useful tools you need to deal with stress while at the same time offering you the opportunity to relax completely. RESERVATIONS ONLINE BOOKING FORM Dear Margaretha, I must thank you for the wonderful workshop. It has really helped me both in my professional and private life. I have finally learnt to prioritise and that it is important to do what I feel it is the right thing - rather than when it is expected. Thank you again for all the hard work you put into the workshop. And a big thank you also to Beau and Belle – with my horse phobia I never dreamt that I would one day feel the irresistable need to hug such an imposing horse as Belle. My confidence has soared, thanks to your patient horses. Marinda G , Keetmanshoop Now is the time to invest in your future health and happiness, before it is too late. You can find out more about how to reserve a place at one of the 3-day workshops and how to get to Alegria here: Stress Buster Workshops .  When the suns sets here in the evening, you may want to enjoy a quite moment in the comfort of a deckchair by the pool or in a hammock in the orchard, nursing an ice-cold fresh fruit juice. Later, you may allow yourself to be tempted by the sumptuous cuisine of the local restaurants, or take a leisurely stroll to Mauleon d'Armagnac through the fragrant evening air. Or you may want to dance the night away during the flamenco, salsa, jazz and country festivals, or even attend a bullfight…or you may just want to just spend a quiet evening on the terrace, reflecting on the content of the workshop...or not. Thank you so much for your engaging and inspiring workshop; it was amazing how much I have learnt in this short space of time! This is definitely something that I can bring back and use to help me take on some of the challenges that I would have avoided before. And I specifically appreciated your patience and great sense of humour. Lucy and I intend to keep in contact, Timothy too – their friendship is an added bonus I never imagined when I signed up for the workshop. And thank you for welcoming us in your gorgeous and comfortable old house ! Lynn P,  Cape Town The workshops are getting more and more popular - reserve YOUR place before they are fully booked! CLICK HERE to make a reservation or CLICK HERE to find out more. RESERVATIONS ONLINE BOOKING FORM Kind Regards Margaretha de Klerk PS. Are you thoroughly fed up with dieting? Why do some people succeed at losing weight and keeping it off, while others fail? How do French women, who love good food and wine, stay so svelte and stylish? The unique Papillon Weight Loss Program, based on the French diet, will show you how to lose weight effortlessly and permanently and make you feel supremely self-confident, radiant, young and healthy. Ready to discover the secret of permanent, truly effortless weight loss? CLICK HERE for more information. PPS. Are you sick of the headaches, insomnia, fatigue, overeating and heartburn it causes? Is stress ruining your personal relationships, your productivity and your appearance? New e-book! the Survive and Thrive! -Immediate and Lasting Stress Relief – is a user-friendly full-color, immediately accesible e-book that tells you what stress is, what the symptoms of too much stress is and exactly what to do about it to avoid long-term damage to your health- written by a medical doctor in every day easy-to-understand English. You can be on the way toward beating the stress and anxiety in your life in less than 5 minutes. CLICK HERE for more information. PPPS. How does stress affect YOUR health and appearance? Now available - the How to deal with Stress? special short report. To get access to my new stress management e-course and order your free copy of the report to get simple and straight-forward answers immediately, just leave your name and e-mail address here: (I respect your privacy and promise never to sell, barter, share or rent your email address to any unauthorized third party. Period! By submitting your email address you are only requesting to be subscribed to my free e-course and mailing list – nothing else- and you may unsubscribe effortlessly at anytime! ) First Name: Email address: From How does Stress affect Health? to Home page RESERVATIONS ONLINE BOOKING FORM