This is what I do for stress relief when I have to talk in front of a group.

by Kerstin Pettersson
(Stockholm, Sweden)

To speak in front of a group of people always stresses me out. I learnt this trick a while ago and I've tried it; and it really works! What I do is to meet the feelings I have up front. I dare them, so to speak. Like this: While I'm wating for my turn to take the stage I listen to what goes on in my body. I pay calm interest to the different sensations without adding any feelings to them. I say: "I feel my blood pounding in the veins, my body is getting warmer, and my voice shivers a little. The sensations don't scare me - they're just there, and that's the way it is!
I have found that it works better to face the feelings instead of surpressing them, pretending they are not there.
Finally, when it is my turn to enter the stage I'm not as scared and stressed anymore having disarmed my fear with my thoughts.