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Fields of Relaxation

Conscious Relaxation

 

To some people, relaxation means lying on a sofa in front of the tv, a glass of alcohol, or a joint. For others, it means listening to music or reading a good book, it may mean taking a nap or talking with friends. Possibly for most people it means not working or doing anything that is physically challenging.

There is nothing wrong with these unwinding techniques, but they do not give you the same healing benefits you get from conscious relaxation. Conscious relaxation means that you are experiencing the release of tension without distraction in the mind.

There are many ways we can consciously relax, but the common denominator in all is slowing down the breath. When the breath slows down, it triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, which then tells the body to slow down in several meaningful ways. Our heart rate and blood pressure decrease, vessels dilate and digestion becomes stronger.

The relaxation response is a state of deep rest that changes our body’s responses to stressful situations, both internal and external. It is as much an inborn mechanism as the stress response, and it is vital for reducing the negative effects of physical, emotional, and psychological wear-and-tear on our bodies.

The key to creating the relaxation response is calming your mind. A calm mind is a mind with minimal activity–little thinking, analyzing, fantasizing, or worry. The calmer your mind is, the deeper is the state of relaxation for your body.

Massage, meditation, visualization, yoga, deep breathing exercises, tai chi, qi gong, progressive muscle relaxation, etc, all have research to support their ability to call forth the relaxation response.

Choose a technique that resonates with you and set aside some minutes/day or hours/week to practice. Many people find it easier to stick with a practice when it is scheduled first thing in the morning, while others like to end their day using relaxation to unwind before going to sleep.

If you prefer to have some hands-on help to promote the relaxation response, schedule a Relaxation Session | Massage with me.

Although hard to take time out for relaxation when you’re sooo busy, it is exactly the time you need it the most!

#GgetWell