I. What are Relaxation Exercises?

Course speech

Relaxation exercises can lower or overcome anxiety because they help your mind to focus your thoughts and reach a calmer state. Relaxation exercises can in fact complement other treatments and therapies for stress, like medication, psychological therapy or other physical health techniques, (please see lessons on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Medication for more information). Herbert Benson’s 1975 research on deep “relaxation techniques” has shown that these exercises can be effective for lowering stress, worry and the physical symptoms of anxiety like increased heart rate and breathing, increase in blood pressure and muscle tension or hormonal imbalances. One advantage you have with Mind-Body Therapies or Relaxation Therapies is that you can practice them with or without the help of a therapist or trainer.

There are many relaxation exercises you can choose in this lesson, which fall into two categories: meditation and relaxation therapies. Meditation exercises calm down your mind, and while you remain alert, your thought process is relaxed, and your body is in a meditative state. Relaxation exercise on the other hand, use your muscles and physical attributes to bring you to a relaxed state of mind and body. The different kinds of exercises included in this lesson are:

  • Progressive muscle relaxation
  • Mind-focusing meditation
  • Mantra meditation
  • Applied relaxation
  • Self-control relaxation
  • Imagery
  • Sound meditation

Specific Instructions for each relaxation exercises can be found in Part IV.

Since using physical attributes bring you relaxation, breathing re-training can then also be considered as Relaxation Therapy. Breathing is so important to reducing stress and increasing physical and psychological health that we have dedicated one whole lesson just on breathing exercises. You will find more information in Lesson 3 – Breathing Exercises.

With so many different therapies available, finding the best one which gives you the most relief is based on your own specific needs, experiences, fitness level, and lifestyle preferences. You may find that the best option for you is to read about the relaxation exercises and how they work, or you may need to try some or all of them to find out which one works best for your level of stress. In the end, you have choices in how you want to free your life from stress, and relaxation exercises is one of these choices.