Just Relax
The big secret to relaxation is in the doing - the relaxing, not in thinking or even reading about it. You have to practice relaxing.
Even if you have regular massage therapy, you still need to be able to relax in order to really benefit from the massage experience.
Are you Relaxed?
I think that most of us need a little reminder to take it easy and relax. Many of us think that we are relaxing when in fact we are not.
When you say you are relaxing, are you really?
- Do you constantly worry?
- Are you constantly distracting yourself?
- Is your mind constantly chattering?
- Do you always have to be thinking or doing something or do you allow yourself time to just be?
- Do you get carried away with negative thoughts about this or that but never really resolve anything?
- Do you feel muscle tension most of the time?
If you've answered yes to even one of these questions, you might not be as relaxed as you think.
Relaxation is a Natural State
Relaxation is an exercise, a technique if you will, to help combat the effects of stress. However, it is also a natural state, or at least it ought to be. Most of us have endured a lot of stress over the years and sometimes the body has difficulty returning to its natural state of relaxation. Part of the reason for this is that we tend to ignore the signs of stress or minimize the effects a stressful event has had on our lives.
Benefits of Practicing Relaxation Techniques
The truth is that there have been numerous studies showing that using relaxation techniques regularly can 1) decrease the likelihood of heart attack and stroke, and can significantly reduce the incidence of a second heart attack; 2) protects you from more serious physical/mental health problems; 3) improves your immune system; 4) aids memory and learning; and, 5) just makes you feel better.
For some interesting stress tests and surveys, visit Stress Canada founded in 1979 by Dr. Hans Selye, well known as the "father of the stress field."
Stay tuned for more articles on ways to relax, difficulty relaxing, and lots of relaxation techniques.
Related Thoughts:
1. Stress
2. Relax
© Copyright, Sylvia Carlson, 2006. Reproduction without permission prohibited.
