If you see someone leaning on a tree or listening to the wind, do not think they're crazy. These are very effective ways of relieving stress, according to 11 Hong Kong youth leaders who travelled to Taiwan last month for three days to teach their Taiwanese counterparts fun, anti-stress techniques. The youth leaders, aged 14 to 23, are outstanding participants from the first Youth Leader Programme of Brand's Health Education Fund's 2004-05 campaign called 'Balance of Body & Mind, With 100 per cent Fun Stress Management'. They have been learning about stress management and leadership skills since the programme - jointly run by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups - kicked off last October. They also took part in community events during which they shared anti-stress techniques and health tips with the public. Last month, at Ming Tai High School, a secondary school in Central Taiwan, the youth leaders and a group of students sat silently on the grass with their eyes closed. They maintained the same posture for about two minutes. Then the Taiwanese students were asked to describe what they heard during the brief period of silence. 'The wind, the ducks, the streams, people breathing . . .,' they replied. The students identified 11 different sounds from nature. The method is called Sound Map. 'I've never done this before,' said 17-year-old Taiwanese student Christine Liu. 'I feel very calm and peaceful, and the environment seems less noisy than usual. I also feel less uptight. This is a really good way of relieving stress.' Virgo Lai Chi-kin, a 17-year-old youth leader, said: 'I feel very calm. I pay full attention and listen, and I forget about other things.' Another technique to beat stress is listening to the heartbeat of trees. Find a big tree and embrace it with your face resting on the trunk. You will hear the movement of water inside the tree. The youth leaders said these methods were important as teenagers today rarely get a moment of peace - even during their leisure time. 'Most Hong Kong teenagers see a movie or sing karaoke to relax. These are noisy activities,' said Christie Hui Pui-ling, 16. 'It leaves them exhausted and they go straight to bed. They rarely have the chance to reflect on their lives.' The youth leaders who led the session said using these methods can help them put their frustrations aside and experience a sense of spiritual calmness. 'You will feel at ease once your mind is relaxed,' they said.
