Listen... and let go

Learn to breathe slower and better with host and producer Jojo Struys’ relaxation CD, writes Tengku Sofiah Aishah

IT is safe to say that most of us find comfort in food during stressful times. After all, stressed spelled backwards is desserts, justifying that decadent scoop of creamy creation.

Host and producer Jojo Struys, however, has a different approach. Instead of calories, she takes in air.

“Simple breathing exercises are very powerful in calming our bodies and slowing down thoughts. Even five minutes of breathing, just consciously breathing, can make a difference,” she says, adding that research has found that 15 minutes of good breathing exercise is equivalent to two hours of sleep.

Food isn’t her solace on bad days. Struys says she does not restrict herself to a specific diet but she knows her limit.

“I love food but I have learnt to enjoy food without going overboard. It is better to have many small meals rather than a big one,” she says. Small meals at regular intervals help with digestion.

WELL-BEING FIRST

Although she is always swamped with work, Struys always puts her well-being first.

“Sleeping in a state of stress can affect the quality of sleep. It is always best to go to bed and consciously wake up with positive thoughts,” says Struys, who tries to get seven hours of sleep whenever possible.

Similar to the famous “law of attraction”, Struys believes that we attract what we we feel.

“Positive thoughts attract positive things. For example, happy people are more likely to be around positive people because they have more to share,” she says. A healthy mind is key to a healthy body.

Of course, it is also unrealistic to expect everyone to be cool and calm at all times. Looking at the soft-spoken and ever-so-calm Struys, one would think that the director of Yuna Inspired never snaps at anything, but she is only human.

“When things go wrong, I take a step back and ask myself, what I can learn from this because there is a lesson to be learnt in everything that we do,” says the accredited Reiki master. “It is not about being angry, but how you handle it. Things are not always going to go right.”

Reiki is a type of Japanese energy healing practice. As the saying goes, “Life is not about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you can bounce back from a fall”.

TUNE FOR THOUGHT

Exercising is a fantastic way to de-stress but, for most of us, when we are not busy making a living, we are stuck in traffic.

So much for that New Year resolution to spend more time at the gym. We may not realise it but strenuous gym regimes are not the only way to well-being.

“I recently had a friend visiting from Los Angeles and instead of catching up at shopping malls, we took a walk away from the city,” says Struys who goes hiking in Bukit Kiara.

She also seeks peace in cafes while she works on her laptop. Often, she finds guided relaxation products helpful when she cannot focus.

“Music therapy can be very powerful. Some hospitals practise this but the products are not easily available here,” says the health enthusiast who recently launched a Guided Audio Relaxation CD titled Letting Go With Jojo Struys.

The collection of six audio tracks is designed to help you de-stress, relax and unwind.

Get connected with nature, the soothing sounds of waterfalls and birds chirping, from the comfort of your bed.

“I love writing, I love nature and I have done research on clinical hypnosis for the CD,” says Struys.

Listen up

Jojo Struys’ Guided Audio Relaxation CD is sold at Starbucks outlets nationwide at RM27 (RM19.90 for Starbucks card holders).

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Listen... and let go

Learn to breathe slower and better with host and producer Jojo Struys’ relaxation CD, writes Tengku Sofiah Aishah

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