Each individual will have unique ways to relax. The relaxation
techniques listed here are options that you can try. There is no right
or wrong way to relax, and no one technique that will work for everyone,
so find out which ones work the best for you.
Relaxation is a
skill. This means that relaxation is something that can be learned and
practiced, it is something we are not necessarily just born knowing how
to do (not everyone knows how to relax), and we often are not good at it
at first. Each person has the ability to learn how to relax, but not
everyone will relax the same way.
Everyone can learn to relax. This means that even if some of these techniques don't work for you, at least one will! You will be able to find some way to relax, and with practice, relaxation will become easier.
Here is an overview of some of the relaxation techniques you might want to try:
Progressive Relaxation
- progressively tensing and then relaxing muscle groups - by
progressive, I mean one muscle group after another... the relaxation
progresses through the body. Passive progressive relaxation is the act
of relaxing muscles progressively without tensing them first. If you are
already very tense, this method might be best (tightening up
already-tight muscles can cause muscle cramping).
Physical Techniques - includes progressive muscle relaxation; also stretching, yoga, tai chi, pilates and other physical techniques.
Visualization - visualizing something for relaxation or making positive changes, such as picturing in your mind a relaxing scene.
Guided Imagery
- the process of being guided through calming or helpful mental images,
such as calming scenes, the healing process, or positive changes.
Autogenics - imagining that your limbs are warm and heavy, your heart rate is slow and steady, and your forehead is cool.
Meditation
- focusing the mind on a word, phrase, or idea and letting go of other
thoughts with an attitude of passive acceptance for relaxation or making
positive changes.
Sensory - experiencing or imagining the sensations of sight, sound, smell, taste, and/or touch.
Deep breathing - breathing slowly and regularly and taking sufficiently deep breaths.
Other methods - exercise, massage, hypnosis, self-hypnosis, crafts, hobbies, dance, music, conscious mental rest, artwork, walking..... etc.
The
best way to find out which relaxation methods work best for you is to
try them. Guided relaxation audio allows you to follow along and be
guided through a relaxation technique. You may not feel any different at
first, but by doing a relaxation technique you experience all the
health benefits of relaxation!
