Many people believe stress is all in the mind. But dealing with stressful situations can have physiological consequences.

Meditation allows you to become more awake and more deliberate about your actions. It teaches you how to respond rather than react to situations in your life.

Regardless of which type you choose, yoga is an excellent way to stretch and strengthen your body, focus your mind and relax your spirit.

Yoga is one of the few stress-relief tools that has a positive effect on all the body systems involved.

Older adults are learning tai chi to improve their balance and reduce their risk of falling. Tai chi offers an aerobic benefit, too.

Massage therapy can be used to increase blood flow, relax muscles, relieve stress and revitalize the body.

When you react to a stressful situation, stress hormones are released into your bloodstream and your heart rate and blood pressure increase.

To keep stress at a minimum and reduce its effects on your life, you need to find and practice healthy ways to manage it.

Here are suggestions on how to better deal with the stress in your life.

Yoga can help you beat stress, feel more in control of your life, and stay healthier.