In psychology, the term relaxation denotes the state of emotional equilibrium and the stress-free condition of an individual. A condition related to the feeling of low tension is observed where there is a lack of arousal originating from sources like anxiety, fear or anger. The Oxford dictionary states that relaxation indicates the freedom of mind and body from anxiety and panic. There are several ways to achieve relaxation. Some of the most common ways are meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and autogenic exercises. Stress has been identified as one of the leading causes of mental illness. Relaxation classes drastically help in reducing stress. Let’s understand relaxation from a closer view.
Importance of Relaxation:
Joining professional relaxation classes are instrumental in dealing with stress and anxiety. Doctors also prescribe relaxation techniques to pacify severe mental health issues such as acute depression, bipolar syndrome and schizophrenia along with medication and counseling therapy.
It would be wise to find a relaxation technique that can benefit you and add it to your daily life. There are multiple relaxation techniques. Each technique brings some benefits to the table.
Relaxation affects the personality of an individual. It helps in boosting confidence. With greater confidence, any individual can deal with any kind of challenge.
Techniques of Relaxation:
Most of the relaxation classes focus on activating the natural relaxing response of the body. This indicates the condition of deep rest that will release all the stress, slower the rate of heartbeat, and facilitate comfort breathing. It also aims to control your blood pressure and brings your mind and body back to perfect balance.
Some of the effective relaxation techniques that are commonly offered are:
1) Deep breathing- Deep breathing is a powerful yet the simplest form of relaxation. Deep breathing can be practiced anywhere, at any time, and is effortlessly easy to learn. Deep breathing is highly recommended for people dealing with an intense amount of stress or work pressure. The technique can even be integrated with other relaxation methods such as music or aromatherapy.
2) Progressive muscle relaxation- Progressive muscle relaxation is a two-step method. The process aims to comprehensively relax and let lose the different sections of muscles in the body. This is such a technique that can help you to identify the alarming signs of stress accompanied by muscular tension. The mind can attain full relaxation when your body achieves a healthy poise.
3) Body Scan meditation- The body scan meditation is somewhat different from the progressive muscle relaxation, but the difference lies in its core concept. It focuses on starting the workout with your feet and gradually it asks for moving toward the upper areas of your body. The main idea is to concentrate on how each part of the body feels rather than relaxing and comforting the muscles.
Benefits of Relaxation Classes for the Mind & Body:
Numerous relaxation techniques are there to promote the wellness of the physical as well as psychological health of an individual. Autogenic relaxation is one such technique that makes use of both visual imagery and awareness of the body to release stress and tension.
Autogenic relaxation is focused on picturing yourself in a serene environment and controlling your breathing rate and physical sensations. Progressive muscle relaxation, on the other hand, makes you more aware of the tension that accompanies stress.
Most of the relaxation methods require minimal effort. They are performed generally while sitting or lying down. The relaxation classes employ techniques like Tai Chi, massage, acupuncture and reflexology to increase the impact of relaxation on the minds of the body of individuals.
Relaxation is one of the best and easiest ways to calm your mind after a stressful day. It is observed that people practiced with relaxation classes generally enjoy regular appetite, sound mental health, and uninterrupted sleep patterns. Relaxation also helps in fighting traumas and addictions and in leading a quality lifestyle for all of us.
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