Relaxation
For many people stress of modern life can make real relaxation seem to be an elusive dream. However there is no reason life has to be filled with anxiety and stress. If you take some time to learn the art of relaxation, you can easily rediscover enjoyment in life. The secret of relaxation is a controlled state of mind. For example, you could spend an hour in a health spa; but, if you spend the whole time worrying about what will happen tomorrow, how can you relax?
When the mind and body are constantly overworked efficiency and productivity diminishes. Modern social life may make it difficult to relax and overlook the need for rest and relaxation as nature's way of recharging. Even while trying to rest, the average person expends a lot of physical and mental energy through tension. Much of the body's energy is wasted.
Continuing pressures of everyday life can place a heavy burden on the physical and mental well-being of millions of people each year. Medical research into the origins of common diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers, and headaches shows a connection between stress and the development of such ailments. In the area of mental health, stress frequently underlies emotional and behavioral problems. Various environmental factors including noise and air pollution and economic disruptions, such as unemployment can create a greater need for mental health services to help people cope more effectively with their environment.
Unfortunately, some people attempt relaxation with the same focus on time, productivity and outcomes that they undertake in their everyday life patterns. It is important to know how to turn off those body clocks and gain satisfaction out of just being instead of always striving. The secret in getting the best results from attempts at relaxation is simple: Find those activities which give you pleasure, and, when you pursue them, commit your energies to total mental and physical well-being. If this relaxation activity happens to produce a creative artwork, musical skills, further education, a better physique, or whatever, then that is a bonus. It is important to remember that relaxation, not achievement, is your main reason for participating in the activity.
Learning relaxation techniques to aid stress reduction and management is based on the concept of the mind-body connection: Whatever relaxes the muscles produces mental relaxation and vice versa. Since the relaxation response counteracts the stress response, it is impossible to be both relaxed and tense at the same time. Progressive muscle relaxation is a simple and effective way to learn how to relax.
Relaxation techniques are taught by many types of health care professionals, including complementary practitioners, medical doctors, psychotherapists, hypnotherapists, nurses or sports therapists. There is no formal credentialing for relaxation therapy. Books, audiotapes or videotapes are sometimes used as teaching tools.
Videos
News
Get Travel Alerts - Huffington Post (blog) |
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Hamas Back Out of Its Box - Middle East Report Online |
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Muhlenberg man finds sense of peace creating woodworking pieces - Reading Eagle |
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Tony Blair's memoirs: verdict - The Guardian |
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Collection Development: Relaxation & Meditation - Library Journal |
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