When looking at dealing with stress holistically, balance is the key. Relaxation therapy restores harmony and helps to create conditions for optimum living. It also assists in the releasing of physical and mental tensions. Relaxation therapy is non-intrusive and gentle. Regularly inducing relaxation is most effective in improving day to day living, and results in increased control over the body's responses to stress.
Learning how to relax the body and mind is a process of enlightening ourselves. Too many of us do not have the time or the energy to learn how to relax completely. Knowing what we need to create the balance between activity and relax may in itself be too much to think about.
The Benefits of Relaxation
Relaxation therapy treatments at home can be used to reduce stress and other problems related to stress and anxiety. Some of those benefits may include:
- reduction of stress and anxiety
- increased ability to cope with pain
- increased ability to cope with stressful events
- increased ability to keep emotional problems under control
- increased feeling of well-being
- increased ability to concentrate
- improved sleep
- improved breathing
- reduced muscle tension
Experiencing a Relaxation Therapy Session
Relaxation therapy can be practiced at home. Here are some guidelines to help get started.
Find a guided meditation that you are comfortable with. There are many free meditations available on-line. Choose one that has a voice that is soothing to you. Meditations can last anywhere from three to 30 minutes. Find one that you have allotted the time for. Some meditations are recorded with background music, other are not. If you wish you may play very soft instrumental music while you are meditating.
Choose a quiet area in your home. Keep the lighting low. You may use essential oils with your meditation. Choose one in which will encourage relaxation. Jasmine and lavender are good options. You may place a couple of drops on a warm light bulb, use a diffuser or mix oils with a gel or lotion and massage onto your body.
Prepare your area with oils and music. You may meditate either sitting or lying down, whichever is most comfortable for you. Turn on your guided meditation. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Your meditation will take you many places and will allow your mind and body to fully relax.
When your session is complete, take at few moments to reflect on your visualizations. Take note of how you feel, the tensions are gone, breathing is deep and regular, you carry a sense of well-being. When you are ready, you may get up from your meditation and enjoy your day.
With the assistance of music, aromatherapy and guided meditation, relaxation can take place. Music can be harmonizing for us. Beautiful, relaxing and truly inspired music has always been here, but now we realize that music has healing potential.
Aromatherapy is well known for its positive effects as a stress management tool. It is based upon the powerful, gentle effects of essential oils. It is a holistic therapy that facilitates the body coming into balance of its own accord naturally. Guided meditation encourages visualizations that induce deep relaxation in your mind and your body.