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Many of us are unaware of the truly harmful impact of psychosocial stress on our wellbeing.

PhD scholar Tasmiah Masih , a relaxation teacher by profession, is looking at the physiological and psychological effects of stress and relaxation.

"I'm hoping to find scientific evidence that an easily incorporated, brief session of progressive muscle relaxation is an effective antidote to stress," she said.

Last year she went to Harvard University to talk to Herbert Benson who coined the phrase relaxation response .  "He has done a lot of study into that response, as opposed to the stress response, which has been well documented," Tasmiah said.  "However, clarification is still required as to what types of relaxation are suitable for a particular individual."

Her study is being supervised by Associate Professors Kym Guelfi and James Dimmock in the School of Sport Science Exercise and Health .

Tasmiah needs volunteers to help her gather the evidence she needs. If you can spare just four afternoons, at least a week apart, please offer to take part.

"Everybody is interested in my research but nobody seems able to find the time to participate," she said.

"I need volunteers who can come to UWA just four times from 1.30pm to 4pm, on any day of the week that suits them. I need healthy non-smoking men and women between the ages of 18 and 45.  The men can come at weekly intervals but I would like to see the women once a month over four months."

The timing of the testing sessions have to do with hormone levels, so Tasmiah is unable to move them very much to suit volunteers, which has also made it difficult to recruit participants.

"Although I'm very happy to hear that people are already incorporating relaxation techniques into their lives, I don't need these people as volunteers," she said. "I need people who don't already do regular relaxation."

If you can help Tasmiah with her research, please contact her by email or by phone as soon as possible.