The Hindu : International : Smashing their way to peace

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 24, 2004

International

International

Smashing their way to peace

Madrid: Stressed-out Spaniards are being offered the opportunity to smash their way back to inner peace with the aid of a sledgehammer and a scrapyard full of abandoned cars. They are calling it ``destruction therapy'', an innovative way to rid yourself of the tension caused by an over-demanding boss or complaining clients. The destructoterapia sessions take place at a yard near the town of Lubia, 160 km north-east of Madrid. ``The targets are the gurus of modern stress — the car, the computer and the phone,'' explained Jorge Arribas, co-inventor of the courses. ``I've seen an information technology guy leave a computer in tiny pieces.'' For Euros 60, therapy patients are offered a sledgehammer, hard hat, overalls, goggles and, for a few euros more, some encouraging live music from a heavy metal band. It may sound an excessively violent way to cool your temper, but, said Mr Arribas, it works. ``This is not violence, it is anti-violence,'' he said. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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