The Tao of Stress: How to Calm, Balance, and Simplify Your Life

Imagine, for a moment, a branch in the wind. If it moves with the wind, it will sway gracefully and remain intact; but if it refuses to bend, it will break. Like that unbendable branch, many of us refuse to be in harmony with the changes around us, and it is out of this conflict that much of our stress is created.

As with most emotions, stress is a natural part of life, but it must be carefully managed in order to keep a sense of balance. When we allow stress to take control, a number of psychological and physical health problems can follow. Anxiety, depression, headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, and even diabetes can all be caused or exacerbated by stress. In order to live a healthy life, you need to make a change.

In The Tao of Stress, an expert in Taoist psychology presents daily meditative skills and movement exercises that can help you simplify your life, fight fatigue, and calm a busy mind. After learning the basics of the Taoist approach to stress management, you will be able to put theory into practice through the various simple exercises and activities offered in this book. By creating your own stress management program, you will stay on the path (Tao) to good health, both in body and mind.

Remember, even Zen masters aren’t immune to stress. But they do know that in order to break the cycle of stress, you must be willing to give yourself up to the flow of life. This book will show you how.

Robert G. Santee, PhD, is a nationally certified counselor. He is also dean of behavioral sciences, director of the masters of science program in counseling psychology, and full professor of psychology at Chaminade University in Honolulu, HI. He is the author of An Integrative Approach to Counseling, and has presented at international conferences on Taoism in China and California, and at the 119th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association in Washington, DC. Santee is certified as a Wushu (martial arts, qigong) coach (jiaolian) in Fujian Province, China, and is a senior instructor (Taijiquan and qigong) for the Xiaxing Martial Arts Association in Honolulu, HI.