A PEP DOC Simon uses holistic methods to cut stress.

“Stress is needs not being met,” says David Simon, neurologist-cum–holistic healer. “Anyone living [in Chicago] will face challenges.” Simon, a Chicago native, should know. This weekend, he and the renowned spiritual guru Deepak Chopra kick off a two-month tour with a stop at the Westin Hotel downtown. The tour’s focus is “creating peace in yourself and the world.” The two-and-a-half day seminar teaches meditation, yoga and good communication skills. The $675 price tag of the “Renewal Weekend” isn’t cheap, so we gleaned five freebie tips from Simon on how to live sanely in our workaholic city.

1. Talk shop
If you find yourself in a communications conundrum—they might make life easier, but text messages don’t replace relationships—Simon suggests two things. First, question what’s really bugging you. “Ask yourself, What do I need that I’m not getting right now?” Simon says. “Usually, it’s something really simple, like not getting to listen to the radio station you’d like to listen to.” Next, ask for what you want—nicely. “Make a very specific request for the behavior that will fulfill your need,” Simon says. “For example, if your partner’s working late a lot, ask if you could have dinner together one night or a picnic in Lincoln Park over the weekend.”

2. Sweat away stress
In case you haven’t noticed, stress will freak a person out. “It activates a primitive, flight-or-fight response,” Simon says. “People get irritable, frustrated and sarcastic. It can make you throw a tantrum.” To avoid a meltdown—and bitter coworkers—try 15–20 minutes of heart-thumping cardio each day. “You need to do something aggressive, so your muscles can expend energy,” Simon says, adding that running is a good bet. Equally important are strength and stretching exercises. “Do crunches, push-ups and deep-knee bends—anything that builds strength,” he says. “Also, doing yoga makes you tune into where the tension is in your body.”

3. Show your true colors
According to Simon, the best foods come in bright colors. “Strawberries, carrots, bananas, asparagus, blueberries, purple grapes—they all have health-promoting [nutritional qualities],” Simon says. “Unfortunately, gummy bears and M&M’s don’t count.” If you can’t scrap candy, try flavorful foods, like cocoa and yogurt. “Vary among the six flavors: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent,” Simon says. “You’re looking to ingest the intelligence of nature.” We’re guessing that Chicago-style hot dog doesn’t make the cut.

4. Come down to earth
When it’s not buried under asphalt and pipes, the earth is a fabulous stress reliever. “The sight of nature is the most healing for our physiology,” Simon says. “It integrates our individuality and our universality. Feeling the sun on our faces and wiggling our toes in the grass helps to balance our center.” So does lying under the night sky, even if you only see Boeings en route to O’Hare.

5. Be an early bird
Ugh, we know—this one’s tough. But that coffee addiction is a red flag signaling our bodies don’t dig late nights. “The cells in our body are still dancing to the same beat they have been for hundreds of thousands of years,” Simon says. And it’s definitely not techno. To give your body adequate rest, Simon suggests hitting the sack super-early: “Be in bed with the lights off by 10:30pm at the latest, and get up at 6:30 or 7am.” If that’s a little extreme for you, try winding down with a healthful routine. “Stop whatever you’re doing an hour before bedtime,” Simon says. “Drink some hot milk with nutmeg, take a bath or watch a light comedy. You need to turn off your mind so your body can get some rest.”

Chopra and Simon renew your soul Fri 22–Sun 24. Westin Hotel, 909 N Michigan Ave; 888-736-6895; chopra.com; $675, group discounts available.