Relaxation Techniques

The purpose of relaxation techniques, whether it is meditation, yoga, tai chi, hypnosis or massage is to cope with everyday stress and bring you back into balance, with all the hardships in your life, even though a little bit of stress is believed to be good for you.

 

Meditation is simple keeping your mind calm and still in the present and now for a certain amount of time. Anything that you enjoy doing on your own, such as walking, looking after your plants, flipping through magazines, being in nature, swimming, painting can all be called meditation.

Try taking your mind off stress by simply visualizing– forming mental images and day dreaming.. of the life that you’ve been dreaming of living, of that tropical island that you’ve been dreaming of going, relaxing by the ocean, living in your dream home.. Anything that will help you feel good and bring a feeling of calmness will do the trick.

Work on your breathing and change the way you breathe. Shallow chest breathing can increase your stress levels and anxiety while relaxed breathing can bring you calm and relaxation. Watch a new born baby while he is sleeping and try and do the same: Take deeper breaths through your belly and with your diaphragm, not shallow breaths through your chest. Pay attention to it and make an effort to change it.

See life through the eyes of a child, try not to make any judgments, accept everything the way they are. Focus on things around you, see every detail, just observe everything about them and stay in the present moment.

If you drink a lot of coffee during the day, stick to one cup of coffee in the morning and switch to tea, especially the green tea for health. All types of tea, including black tea are good for relaxation. They come with great health benefits and offers a calmer mind.

Find a quiet place to sit or lie down and take some time off work or whatever you’re doing and focus on your breathing, think good thoughts- engage your mind in positive thinking or simply nothing. Just relax.. Don’t ever let the music in you stop playing… Listen to happy or relaxing songs that make you happy during the day.

Yoga is probably my favorite relaxation technique. It has been practiced for more than 5000 years and it is usually composed of asanas- phyical poses, pranayama- breathing techniques, mantras, meditation and physical activity. It offers wonderful healthy benefits, ability to focus mentally and concentrate and brings youth and beauty to your body, happiness and joy to your mind.

And physically, it helps you develop balance, strength and flexibility. But be careful with possible injuries from yoga, it is like any other physical activity, you need to be careful while doing the postures and exercises. Wear comfortable clothing, stay hydrated and do not forget to warm up before starting yoga, this will help you avoid potential injuries.

 

Relaxation techniques may help lower your blood pressure, slow your heart rate, improve concentration, reduce anger, boost confidence, improve your sleep, make you happy, have better relationships with people, feel connected to the world, be more efficient at work and at home.

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