Best Ways to Relax
Ways to Relax Body and Mind
Loosening up and relaxing after a hard day's work is recommended to gather back your strength and prevent stress from building up. Even if you think that you are too busy, spare a little bit of time to unwind so that you can lower your blood pressure, improve your heart health, increase your concentration level and manage your moods.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercise
Lie down with your arms and hands on your side. Close your eyes and slowly breathe in deeply from your stomach through your nose. Hold your breath for a few seconds and then release it through your mouth. Do this breathing exercise 3 times.
Continue to breathe in and out slowly. Focus on your breathing so that your mind won't wander around. And as you lie down comfortably, imagine a wave of relaxation moving from the top of your head to your skull. Then imagine your muscles at your temples relaxing. Follow that by feeling the muscles of your eyes relaxing. Imagine the tension on your jaws moving out. Work on this muscle relaxation exercise on every part of your muscles from your ears, shoulders, back right down to your ankles and feet.
Ways to Relax No. 2 - Visualization Exercise
Put yourself in a comfortable position either sitting straight or lying down. Just like the muscle relaxation exercise, start this exercise with deep breathing.
Focus inwards and as you continue to breathe slowly, imagine a pleasant experience. If you can't recall any, create one. Imagine you are walking on a beach. As you walk, allow your feet to touch the water and feel it. As you walk further, you see a hammock and you get into it and lie down. Close your eyes and listen to the waves.
Ways to Relax No. 3 - Listen to Relaxation Music
Soothing and relaxing music that helps alter your brainwaves to alpha or theta levels is the best type of sounds to listen to. Sound of the rain and waves are also relaxing. To feel more relaxed, focus on slow deep breathing. When your brainwaves have slowed down, you will feel relaxed. This is one of the best times to state positive affirmations and to visualize.
Ways to Relax No. 4 - Deep Relaxation Hypnosis
Listen to deep relaxation hypnosis CD or MP3. It usually includes soothing music, the sound of waves or other relaxing sounds and may include binaural beats.
The hypnotherapist will first guide you through a deep breathing exercise. You will then start a visualization exercise followed by progressive muscle relaxation exercise. To put you into a deeper state of relaxation, you will be asked to count from 10 to 1. By this time, you brain waves will slow down and you are already in a deep relaxed state. The hypnotherapist will then provide positive suggestions to your brain.
Get a Good Night Sleep
It doesn't matter how long you sleep. What's important is that you get sufficient amount. In order to have undisturbed sleep, avoid caffeine related drinks, heavy meals and worrying prior to sleep. Listening to soothing or relaxing music will induce you to a calm state. Drinking relaxing herbal teas before you sleep may also help calm your nerves and release stress and tension. Some examples are valerian root tea, chamomile tea and catnip tea.
Pamper Yourself
Once a week, pamper yourself and relax with a body or foot massage. You can also pamper yourself at home by dipping yourself in the bathtub, with soft music, soothing atmosphere, scented candles and essential oils. Then cuddle with your spouse in front of the tube and watch a romantic movie. Make love tenderly. There is no need to rush. Change your environment. Once a month, go to the beach or do whatever that gives you excitement. Walk barefoot, watch the night sky or the sunrise and sunset.
Write
Writing helps in many ways. Jot down your thoughts, ideas, emotions and plans. Release your emotions through writing. Save time by planning your days on paper. Watch your participation in life by jotting them down and viewing what you have done. Understand yourself and others by writing your observations. There are lots you can learn about your life and that of others through writing.
Read
Read books that stimulate your mind. Read poems. Read a good book before you go to sleep just like how your parents read to you when you were a child. It's comforting.
Get a Hobby
Crossword and jigsaw puzzles are great mental exercises. Although your mind is occupied to find the solution or to put the pieces together, it is a concentrated effort. You will become absorbed and forget about the worries of the day. Try fishing, knitting or any other hobby that you enjoy doing and allow you to refocus and divert you from your daily grinds.
Other ways to relax include doing meditation, tai chi and yoga.
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