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2019ILLUSTRATION BY CAROLE HÉNAFF FOR THE WASHINGTON POSTheart rate and lower blood pressure.
Bring nature indoors: In addition to be-
ing natural air purifiers and stress reducers,
Kopec says plants have organic, irregular
shapes that are inherently relaxing to the eye.
“A nd they require tending and nurturing,
which gives us a sense of control,” he added.
Start with low-maintenance varieties such as
aloe, ivy and jade plants. If you’re a more
seasoned plant owner, Augustin recommends
large, leafy green plants. “Cactuses and plants
with pointy leaves haven’t proven to be as
relaxing as leafier plants, such as ficuses. You
want softly rounded leaves with branches that
bend a little bit under the weight of the leaves.”
Rock it out: For clients who need to de-
stress, Israel recommends rocking chairs. “Ev-
eryone's born in a womb where they’re rockedback and forth,” she said. “These chairs are
designed to calm us down.” Airports all over
the country are littered with the classic piece,
which Israel says is not a coincidence: “I call it
a calming intervention.”
[email protected]Buerger is a music and lifestyle writer based in New
York.