After the fast paced 16 day vacation with a list of sights to see we have found several days of relaxation was needed before resuming our regular life duties.
Relaxation techniques are practices to help bring about the body’s “relaxation response,” which is characterized by slower breathing, lower blood pressure, and a reduced heart rate. The relaxation response is the opposite of the stress response.
I have through the years employed some of the studies discussed in my graduate college coursework in Psychology which compared relaxation techniques to cognitive behavioral therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of psychological treatment that helps a person become aware of ways of thinking that may be automatic but are inaccurate and harmful. The therapy involves efforts to change thinking patterns and usually behavioral patterns as well.
Here are some of the different types of relaxation techniques.
Progressive Relaxation: Also called progressive muscle relaxation, this technique involves tensing different muscles in your body and then releasing the tension.
Autogenic Training: Through a series of mental exercises involving relaxation and ideas you suggest to yourself (autosuggestion), your mind focuses on your body’s experience of relaxation.
Guided Imagery or “Visualization”: In guided imagery, you picture objects, scenes, or events that are associated with relaxation or calmness and attempt to produce a similar feeling in your body.
Breathing Exercises: For breathing exercises, you might focus on taking slow, deep breaths—also called diaphragmatic breathing.
There are many other complementary health practices such as massage therapy, meditation, yoga, tai chi, and qigong can produce several beneficial effects in the body, including the relaxation response; however, I have not had experience with these practices.
Seriously my favorite is just sitting on the couch with no expectations or interruptions to use the time honored technique of Binge watching a favorite TV show. Ours has been for the last two days... Netflix's "The Ranch"!
We're feeling much more relaxed.
Nana
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