Relaxation TechniquesRelaxation techniques counter the effects of stress. These relaxation exercises give you a sense of control and physical release which relieves stress and prevents or reduces stress-related illnesses. Relaxation techniques can help you to deal with stress. Do feel frazzled and pulled in many directions? Are you stressed out? Stress can be overwhelming, pulling us off center and making us feel tossed around by the waves of life. In fact, stress is one of the leading causes of disease. Health professionals have estimated that some 75-85% of all health problems are precipitated or aggravated by stress! Free Stress Management Resources Take part in our free stress management course delivered to your Inbox. This makes dealing with stress important for you and your health! Relaxation techniques can help you to regain balance and take control of stress. By developing your relaxation skills you can bring back a sense of control, experience physical release and bring back some much needed mental tranquility. There are a number of relaxation techniques that you can use to deal with stress.
I strongly urge you to try a number of different relaxation techniques and see which resonates with you. Learning a number of different relaxation exercises gives you a broad arsenal to fight stress. Relaxation breathingBreathing for relaxation is probably one of the simplest and most effective ways to deal with stress. Some Documented Benefits of Relaxation. Less buildup of stress Increased energy and productivity Greater self confidence Improved concentration/memory Prevention or reduction of hypertension, headaches, migraines, ulcers etc Increased bodily awareness Breathing for relaxation comes from the diaphragm. However, when you are stressed you tend to breathe rapidly and shallowly from the chest – which can alter the blood’s acid balance and contribute to increased stress and anxiety. To counter the effects of stress, breathing exercises that involve deep belly breathing are often very useful. This breathing for relaxation technique may be useful next time you find yourself getting stressed. Alternatively, read more about the many breathing exercises that you can adopt into your stress management toolbox. The relaxation responseDr Herbert Benson of Harvard University is one of the world’s leading experts on relaxation and developed the relaxation response in 1975. Studying a number of transcendental meditation experts, Dr Benson found that meditation can switch on the relaxation response – which counters the effects of the stress response. Dr Benson's technique to attain the relaxation response is provided. Meditation – Relax with sustained awarenessWith sustained concentration, the benefits of meditation extend to relaxed mental alertness, a deeper awareness of the present, a calm and relaxed physical and mental state and overall enhanced well being. This makes meditation a great tool for stress management. This relaxation meditation will have you relaxed in no time. Guided imagery – Mental stress reliefMost likely we have all said the statement "I’ll believe it when I see it". Well it is true – "seeing is believing" – especially when it comes to promoting a calm and relaxed state, or creating a vision of the type of person you want to be. Imagery is more active than meditation in that imagery directs the mind to use all its senses to re-create an experience. Guided imagery can be a great relaxation exercise. See yourself as a relaxed and calm person and responding to stressors in an appropriate manner is an effective stress reducer. Guided imagery has also been used by many elite performers both on and off the sporting field for positive mental rehearsal and is one of many relaxation techniques. This guided imagery meditation will have you relaxed in no time. Progressive muscle relaxation – a physical release of tensionDo you often feel tense after a long day? Do you feel stress-related tension in your shoulders or neck? Often we can carry around our stress in our bodies – accumulating tension which can lead to a number of different stress-related illnesses. Progressive muscle relaxation (or PMR) was developed by Dr Edmund Jacobson in the 1930’s to relax his patients. Since then, PMR has been adapted and shortened for general use as a means for relaxation. Through a process of systematic tensing and releasing of muscles, progressive muscle relaxation can be a great way to relax muscles and reduce stress. Yoga - A deep breathing stress reducerYou don’t have to live on top of a mountain and wear robes to enjoy the benefits of yoga. People from all over the world are reaping the benefits of daily yoga. While there have been numerous studies of yoga on stress relief, probably the most informative and greatest number of studies have been on Hatha yoga. Deep breathing and using the many different muscle groups as you strike the lotus position is a great way to reduce stress. Here I describe how relaxation yoga relieves stress. Self hypnosis - Take on stress with confidenceSelf hypnosis has been given a bad rap lately. Self hypnosis won’t have you 'clucking' around the stage with your hands under the armpits. Self hypnosis can give you a deep sense of relaxation and replace your "I can't" with a resounding "I can". Used in sport, as a pain relief, to quit smoking or as a relaxation tool (among many others), self hypnosis can give you the tools and the confidence to take control of stress in your life. Mindfulness - Bringing your awareness to the presentThere are a number of ways to approach mindfulness, in fact you can dedicate your entire life to living more mindfully. For over a millenia, eastern traditions have practiced living mindfully and only recently have the benefits of mindfulness been empirically studied in the West. This mindfulness technique brings your awareness to the present and can reduce stress and anxiety and promote a clear mind. Other relaxation techniques and ways to relieve stressRelaxation techniques are an effective way to combat stress. However, there are a number of other relaxation exercises and coping strategies to deal with stress. Here we describe a number other stress management techniques.
 Exercise relaxes the muscles and rids the body of excess stress products. While regular exercise is a great stress management technique, as you know the benefits of exercise extend well beyond reducing stress. Exercise improves overall health, reduces obesity and adds to longevity. In this article the exercise and stress connection is discussed and some steps are outlined on ways you can maintain the exercise program.
Biofeedback can enhance the connection between your mind and body and give you solid results on how well your relaxation is going. By providing you with feedback on your body's relaxation, biofeedback can be used as a therapeutic tool to provide you with objective information on how well your relaxation exercises are going and ways that you can adjust your relaxation routine for optimum benefit.
 A good belly laugh is more contagious than a cold as is a beneficial stress reducer. For thousands of years we have felt the benefits of laughter and only recently is scientific evidence starting to show what we have always felt. Laughter lightens your load and helps you see the world from a different perspective. Laughter therapy can reduce stress and increase overall wellbeing.
While relaxation is an effective way to reduce stress, it is generally always handy to know your causes of stress are and how you react to them. Gathering data around your stress is generally a first step to stress management. To gather objective data on the causes of stress and your stress signature (symptoms of stress) a stress diary can be useful. Monitor your stress for a few days with this stress diary. Related Articles
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