Free your mind for a healthy body.

We all have times when things seem to pile up and threaten to overcome us with stress and worry. Often they bring physical stress and ailments including monstrous headaches, backaches, stomach problems and the occasional cold. Mental and physical stress are related, but is it so hard to get them to work together for relief?

They already do, according to Dr. Linda L. Moore, psychologist and consultant who heads Linda L. Moore and Associates in Missouri. She spoke at the annual conference of The National Institute for Leadership Development (NILD) and the American Association for Women in Community College (AAWCC) in Phoenix in June 2004.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

To help campus women reduce their stress levels, she said, "I want to give you a broader and deeper understanding of the interaction between mind, body and spirit." To start, she suggested this exercise:

- Start paying attention to your body. Close your eyes and conduct an inventory of your body, focusing on each area from the soles of your feet and on up to the top of your head. Try to understand what's going on with your body.

- Next let your attention shift to your mind. Let your thoughts become messages to yourself. Identify each of your feelings in one word. Are you happy, sad, scared or bored? Be conscious of your spiritual connectedness. Is it open, closed, committed or discontented?

- Very slowly open your eyes.