Last week, I wrote about the possibility of counteracting the aging effects of stress with light to moderate exercise. Now that we've explored ways to get the heart pumping to more effectively manage stress, it's time to take a look at various relaxation techniques that you can also use to deal with stress in order to lead a more healthy, happy life.

There's a lot of talk these days about the effects that mindful eating (which include, among other things, chewing your food slowly, savoring every bite, and eating free of the distractions of a cell phone, computer, or television) have on weight management, much of it centered around a new book by Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr. Lilian Cheung called "Savor."

Good news for moms and dads looking raise healthy, happy kids. A recent study published in the May 28 issue of  Pediatrics finds that childern who spend time with kids who are active are more likely to exercise themselves. According to researchers who conducted the study, "...friendship ties play a critical role in setting physical activity patterns in children as young as 5 to 12 years."

For most of us, it's often challenging to find ways to squeeze an exercise routine into our busy schedules. It's not that we don't know the importance of taking care of ourselves (and how good it feels once our blood starts circulating), but when faced with the demands of work, kid schedules, and other commitments, exercise sometimes takes a back seat.