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Pins and needles, street fights and herbal tea. That is what some cultures around the world consider relaxation, with amazing results.

Relaxation in most parts of the world is a community affair. People gather together and engage in social activities that help relieve the pressures of daily life and form stronger personal bonds. In contrast to popular American norms, relaxation seldom involves solitude and quietness and is often times filled with sound, camaraderie and some form of physical exertion. Here are some exotic examples:

BRAZILIAN CAPOEIRA
Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that mixes acrobatic and ballet moves with dance and percussion. Participants form a Roda (circle) and take turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in the center of the circle. Capoeira is not only a fight-simulation dance game but its practitioners believe its philosophy is in the dialog between two bodies'. It is not violent or aggressive and body contact is avoided. People of all ages practice its graceful movements and hypnotic music which transmits Brazilian culture. Capoeira is also a good aerobics workout that improves flexibility, strength and body control.

ACUPUNCTURE IN CHINA
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique and though it is most commonly known as a disease treatment measure, some Chinese people receive monthly or weekly acupuncture treatments to help regulate the hormones, stimulate metabolism and help with stimulation and distribution of energy in the body for cases of stress, anxiety or depression.

TAARAB IN ZANZIBAR:
Taarab is the indigenous music in Zanzibar, a cluster of islands in the Indian Ocean off the East African coast. The word taarab is Arabic, meaning ' joy, pleasure and entertainment brought by artistic combinations of lyrics, poems and music'. At the end of a long day, the locals gather together to drink strong tea and dialog through Taarab music performed by a live band. The premise is to foster communication in the audience with the song lyrics as the channel.

For example if a male member of the audience wants to communicate his affection for a lady, he will make an animated strut up to the stage showing off his fine evening clothes, give a small donation' to the main singer and make a song selection request to be sung to his intended recipient. This works like a human jukebox. Having been born and raised in neighboring Kenya, I have had the pleasure of participating in a taarab gathering and the atmosphere is lighthearted

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