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4 Simple and Powerful Everyday Relaxation Techniques Podcast Episode
Did you know that unresolved stress you encounter and have to deal with each day has been shown to be one of the leading cause of mental issues as well as other health problems? This is why the various relaxation techniques that you will read about in this article are meant to keep your mind, body, and soul free from tension, anxiety, anger, fear and help you find better ways of coping with everyday stress.
When you are relaxed mentally, it will significantly reduce the adverse effects on various aspects of your health, such as:
- Decreased muscle tension
- Decreased carbon dioxide production and oxygen consumption
- Improved blood flow to the arms and legs
- Control of breathing
- Greater self-actualization
- Improved mental health
- A significant decrease in smoking and drug abuse – if you do
- Effective in managing migraines, insomnia, anxiety, asthma, ulcers, pain tolerance, fatigue, depression, hypertensives, and much more.
The following relaxation techniques [which we have been teaching for years in our Elizabeth City, NC Chiropractic office] are generally considered safe and may be helpful in managing a variety of health conditions for healthy people. My disclaimer is that there have been numerous reports of increased anxiety, especially for individuals with serious physical or mental health issues, as such, they should consult with their physicians before attempting any of them.
Meditation practices – Particularly those that include breathing and movements such as Tai Chi and Yoga have been found to induce relaxation significantly.
Deep breathing exercises – Ever wonder why you are told to take a breath when you are angry, fearful, or frustrated, and how once you breathe, you feel relaxed? Well, Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower physical stress because it automatically signals your brain to calm down and relax. So next time either try, 3 to 10 of belly breathing or roll breathing to help you use your lungs full capacity to promote focus and relaxation.
You may feel dizzy the first few times you try roll breathing, therefore do it with caution until you fully master the technique.
Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) – This is a technique that is based on the practice of tightening one muscle group at a time followed by relaxation and tension release. Doctors have used it to mitigate chronic cancer pain, digestive problems, high blood pressure, headaches, anxiety, stress, fatigue, and chronic insomnia.
Guided imagery therapy – Like PMR, this is a self-awareness relaxation technique that helps you learn how to use words or images so that you effectively steer your thoughts away from the stress, nervousness, anxiety or pain in order to find your inner peace and strength. This relaxation technique can have many physical and emotional benefits because it centers the natural powers of the mind into relaxation, self-awareness, even healing.
