The Truth About Relaxing

When you are under stress, your body reacts as if it is under attack. This is called the fight-or-flight response.  Relaxing your body depends on you eliminating the tension in your muscles.  Stress affects all aspects of your life, including your emotions, sleep routines, relationships and if left unchecked  can lead to serious health issues.

Below are some relaxation tips that are easy to incorporate into your daily routine and especially for those times that you start to feel anxious, and tense.

• Breathing exercises are one way to relax.   Take a deep breathe in, hold for a few seconds, and then exhale slowly.  Repeat  7 – 10 times.

• Take a time out and listen to your favourite music for a few minutes

• Try aromatherapy: place a drop of lavender, or other essential oil onto your wrists or hands. The scent can trigger smell receptors in the nose that connect to the part of the brain that regulates emotions.

•  Distract yourself from the issue at hand.  Pick up a crossword puzzle or a game of Sudoku. Brain games that require concentration can help take your mind off the stressful situation.

Try to incorporate these tips for relaxing when you have more time available.

• Take a hot shower

• Go for a walk with your pet

• Get a massage

• Spend a few minutes meditating or try imagining yourself  in your “Happy Place”.  That could be a childhood memory, a  favorite vacation spot or an imaginary place.  The idea is to get you to stop thinking about what caused  your stress.

• Keep a journal

• Yoga!!!   When you become stressed, your body releases hormones that speed up your heart rate and make your muscles tense.

Relaxation

• gives the heart a rest by slowing the heart rate
• reduces blood pressure & increases blood flow
• decreases muscle tension

As you become more relaxed, you will:

•  sleep better and have more energy
• have less headaches
• increase your concentration
• increase your ability to handle frustration and stressful situations

A variety of different relaxation techniques can help you bring your nervous system back into balance.  There is no single relaxation technique that is best for everyone.   The right relaxation plan is the one that fits your lifestyle,  is easy to incorporate into your daily routine and helps you to relax!