Favourite form of relaxation for FOH'ers?

[El Presidente]

Talking yesterday with a leading heavy hitting professional who professed the one thing he has lost the art of doing is 'Relaxing".

Just wondering what it is that brings our stress levels down, balances the "Ying and Yang", makes the world alright again....or at least bearable.

A good cigar is a given but I am looking for those other things that you do which soothes the soul of the inherent beast inside?

[Guest rob]

Golf at my local golf course. No question about it - it is the one place on this planet that makes me feel at peace. My ashes will be scattered there.

[dicko]

Definitly exercise for me. go for a swim, hit some pads, even just take 15 to do some push ups. I find it helps.

Aside from cigar!

[LeafLover]

Cigars aside, watching professional tennis on TV.

Watching tennis, smoking a cigar, and drinking a single malt scotch....priceless.

[SandmanTR]

Fishing!!! Time with the family and being unplugged from all things work.

[archosaur]

For me, exercise and/or the outdoors. Weights, running, hiking, kayaking, camping.

[Colt45]

Sitting at the beach if first thing that comes to mind. But really, for me it's solitude.

[Lotus400]

Listening to jazz music on my hi fi. Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, Freddie Hubbard the list goes on. I think I am dating myself here

[Fuzz AI]

Golf, definitely golf.

Or a nice game of paintball. Nothing like going out and hammering a couple blokes to get rid of the built up tension.

[MrGlass]

Juggling. Standing there running five balls really clears my head.

[mbrody]

Cooking, Fishing, Family, *****/Sporting Clays, Hike with the Dog, Beach 4x4, Occassional Golf...all are relaxing,except when i get competitive.

[Wil]

Golf. Bushwalking.

[MIKA27]

I must say I rather enjoy catching up with Friends for a beverage or two and sharing a cigar and having a chat/laugh about almost anything other than work relaxes me. I most often catch up every Friday evening for a traditional 'meet' be it at a friends home, my home or we head out to the European Beer cafe Bluestone on St Kilda Road.

I also love spending quality time with the family, heading off for a drive somewhere, most times at the spur of the moment.

In the end however, a good cigar and a book does wonders to help relax. I enjoy heading off to a good book store and selecting a good read.

[Tuck]

I find the best stress relief is solid exercise like boxing or hard running, while listening to heavy music.

But for pure relaxation I can't beat sitting in a tranquil place with some nice orchestral/jazz/chilled music and a good cigar. Can't beat the families river house for location, sitting on the banks, listening to the water swirl, and forgetting the world...mmmm, perfect.

A cold beverage doesn't go astray either.

Damn! I want to be there instead of work now.

[Professor Twain]

Flogging the bishop.

[cigcars]

*For my ideal Yin & Yang: my wonderful habana with a championship UFC bout while perusing a newly bought cigar magazine or catalog.

*When not cigar smoking, relaxing to Mandy Patinkin singing "Mamaloshen" CD. Or Enya

[samb]

My life is so filled with BS and stress and hectic situations, that idk what to do to completely relax anymore. The only thing is probably a good cigar that can be enjoyed without any obligations. Its rare though, even when I can find a few minutes of utter relaxation, it is usually interrupted by the wife

Having a bad day today.

[thechenman]

Sitting down with a nice glass of wine. Sitting or walking on the beach. Reading a good book or some comics. Watching a movie is solitude. All these are great stress relievers for me and help me to relax.

[MIKA27]

Flogging the bishop.

[Onsto]

Has to be my bikes. Have a couple of sportbikes and a classic and there's nothing like a quick blast to clear your head. It's entirely visceral and demands your full attention; anything less is bad for your health. My main sin is thinking about work when I'm not there (and I'm there a lot) - a bike is a perfect antidote to that.

[reg]

just having no obligations and the freedom to do whatever I want

[ChanceSchmerr]

Listening to Dixieland Jazz, played by a local group here in Victoria - never fails to relax me.

Sailing is also a great relaxer, but I havn't done so in years. Maybe a good time to start again!

[OZCUBAN]

Mine would have to be firstly a good cigar ,drinks with good friends and to also curl up with a good book .

of course this when i am not working 22 hours of the day

Cheers Oz

[Kangaroo495]

For stress relief I cook.

For some reason I find nothing more relaxing or enjoyable than getting in the kitchen and spending hours there cooking something extremely difficult. Also love eating the final product.

Other than that - shagging or a good BJ is a decent stress relief.

[Bartolomeo]

Landscaping in the yard

Golf

Cigars

Hammock time

Bart