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You Can Relax Naturally and Easily
The Progressive Relaxation Technique
Millions have used a simple progressive relaxation exercise over the years.
It combines aspects of physical therapy, meditation, self hypnosis and some
practice can create a profound state of relaxation. Research has also shown it
to be effective on chronic
tension headaches.
This process can help you cope with pain, anxiety, mental or physical
hyperactivity and systemic stress.
We will use a system of tensing and relaxing various areas of your body,
focused breathing, and imagery to achieve profound relaxation.
If you are using this while experiencing pain, when addressing the area in
pain, do not physically, tense the area. Instead visualize the area
tensing, for example if your lower leg is in pain, just picture your leg
muscles, bunching up, hardening, visual the definition of your muscles
increasing till they stand out, hold that image in your mind as you would a
physical position. And visualize the relaxation of the muscle too. The fibers
lengthening, softening.
I was taught this technique when I was eight years old to assist me in
falling a sleep while in pain or hyperactive.
You will find that over time as you use this process, that the relaxation you
need comes quicker and earlier in the process. Or that only one part of your
body requires focus, to achieve full relaxation. At that stage adapt the
exercise to suit your needs.
Today I find that simply laying down, a few deep slow breaths, tensing
my neck and shoulder muscles for a count of ten and releasing the tension slowly
will trigger the relaxation response.
Why Does it Work?
This process of relaxation is guaranteed to happen because at its foundation
it is based on a very basic physiological reaction.
When you intentionally create tension in a muscle then you can release that
tension and the muscle has to relax. The muscle does not have a choice.
But that is not all, the muscle will not only quickly relax back to its
pre-tensed state, but if it is allowed to continue in its relaxed state, will
become even more relaxed than it was.
Relaxed muscles require less oxygen so the breathing pattern slows and
deepens. The heart does not need to be beating so fast to carry oxygen out to
tense muscles. Heart rate and blood pressure decline. The normal blood flow
returns to the belly and digestion resumes. The belly is calmed. Hands and feet
warm up. Such a series of bodily adaptations all start and fall naturally into
place because the voluntary muscles are being directed into a state of
relaxation.
The focused breathing, imagery and other components of the process all
reinforce this very basic physiological fact. Next we will provide a written
walk though of the entire process.
Learn the relaxation
technique
These microwavable Herbal heat pacs can help you reach a deeper state of
relaxation in less time. Try one now.....
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