"What makes different relaxation methods effective?" by Tarun Patel

Do you feel stressed out a lot of the time? Is it hard to unwind and relax at the end of the day? Relaxation techniques can help you to relax the mind and the body. Being more relaxed will help you solve problems better and can improve your health. There are many different relaxation methods, but most have some things in common.

Relaxation is based on the idea that you can't feel anxious and stressed when the body is in a relaxed state. Learning to relax will help you control the body’s normal response to stress which is to make the body tense and the mind more alert. As you learn the relaxation methods, you will be able to control the reaction your body and mind have to stressful situations.

Relaxation is aimed at changing your normal response to stress or threat and there are three areas of focus in a relaxation program.

1. Changing your breathing. Being able to slow your breathing rate to a comfortable 10-12 breaths a minute will calm you. Then changing from shallow chest breaths to deeper abdominal breaths will induce even deeper relaxation.

2. Relaxing the body. Progressive relaxation involves tensing and then relaxing the muscles in the body starting at the toes.

3. Focusing your attention on the present moment. By learning to stop being distracted by worrying thoughts your mind begins to slow down. Bringing your attention back to the present moment, or focusing your attention on an object are common relaxation techniques.

There are many different types of relaxation that change your body’s reaction to stress and bring about the relaxation response. These include guided visualization where you are asked to visualize a relaxing scene or journey. This relaxation method works very well with children and also with adults who can easily imagine things.

Meditation is another effective relaxation method. There are many different forms of meditation including very active, movement based styles. Learning to control breathing and focus attention is a powerful relaxation method that occurs with meditation.

Yoga or Tai Chi is another form of moving meditation and helps with relaxation of mind and body. Series of movements are performed in a controlled way and it can be a very soothing practice to learn. These methods have been used for centuries to bring a sense of calmness and peace of mind to practitioners. The breathing and attention skills learned in yoga and tai chi can be used to relax and manage stress during the day and as a regular daily activity for good health.

The aim of relaxation is for you to regain control over your mind and body and feel calmer and clearer. Once you have learned some relaxation techniques it is easier to use them during the day in any stressful situation. There are many different relaxation methods and using both active and passive relaxation activities regularly can give you the ability to reduce the negative effects of constant daily stress.