Relaxation Techniques

There are many relaxation techniques, here are some of mine which I find work for me. I hope they will work for you too. The first thing I have come to realise that if you are the sort of person who gets stressed easily, that’s because you are the person you are. Stress I feel is often created because of caring too much, wanting everything to be right. Of course that means we are responsible for our own stress, it is down to us but we just can't simply change who we are. Instead we have to learn ways of modifying some of thinking, so we don't get to wrapped up in things that cause us stress. At the end of the day, life is short and is also precious. We need to find balance and harmony, and life with less stress but not with none. I’ve sometimes imagined being like some Buddhist monk, who sits serenely and meditates for hours and drifts through the day on some other higher level but that person is not me. If I wanted to be that way, I’d have to give up everything I own and go to live in a temple somewhere. Sometimes it seems that it would be a good thing to do but if I did, I know it would not be me and I think I would end up rebelling (as I’ve often done) and walking out. Instead I’ve learnt that I can’t change who I am but I can learn how to deal with things so they don’t get on top of me and get through the day more easily. Here are the few relaxation techniques that have helped me through some pretty difficult times and also my daily life.

Relaxation techniques 1 - Focusing on within

When you’re feeling really stressed and you can feel yourself buzzing, close your eyes – please don’t do this when driving – and bring the focus of your intention inside you body. Simply passively observe your heart beat, your breathing, any pain or discomfort you may have and this includes any tinnitus or other feelings anywhere. The important thing here is to be passive about it, don’t try to analyse it, just silently observe it.

Focusing on within is really relaxing and a very powerful way of getting in touch with self. Never force it – just Let It Be!

Relaxation techniques 2 - Recognising the moment

The answer to this overload I have found is to return to the now and bring to your attention everything that is around you at that very moment. Just take time to look and feel what you can see, hear, smell, touch or taste. Look at the blue sky, the light clouds floating by; hear the birds singing or the sounds of children playing. Listen to your breath or your heartbeat; look at yourself in the mirror, examine your hand or just about anything about your physical being. Don’t analyze or judge, just observe. Then think about how amazing everything is and consider how incredible it is be not just to be alive but aware of all that is around you. Soak in that feeling of being aware, of being able to experience the beauty and mystery of being. No one can possibly understand the miracle of life but we can feel it and we can appreciate it with a great intensity. In life, we tend to take the big picture and see things in terms of “why did this happen to me?” or “what went wrong?” or “how can I be happier?” and we don’t see the minutiae of life and all those millions of tiny miracles that are happening at every moment. We are too busy examining the gloomy news, instead of spending times of quiet gazing at a crystal drop of water on a flower, or a spider dangling from its web, or listening to the wondrous sounds of nature.

Recognising the moment helps not only to us to relax our mind but shows us how magnificent is life, and how magnificent is our life. Spend time doing nothing, except observing the moment and discovering the beauty of being alive.

There is a wise saying which goes something like ‘If you look for happiness, you’ve already passed it by.’ Happiness exists in the moment, in the now. Grasp this concept and life will be much gentler on you.

Relaxation techniques 3 - Visualization

Artwork by Merav Wheelhouse - for sale.
Merav will paint by commission

Visualization is another good relaxation technique. It takes your mind into another dimension. In visualization you can go anywhere you please and be whatever you want. You can be a bird soaring above the mountains, an astronaut in space; or you can be on a heavenly sun kissed island or in some imaginary fantasy land.

Find a comfortable quiet place to sit, close your eyes and for a while do nothing. For a few moments do the ‘focus on the now’ technique and when your body and mind have slowed down, think of some place you would like to be. As you think of this place, start to see what is in that place. If it is a room, examine the furniture and doors leading out; if it is a field in the country, examine the trees, the grass, the flowers, the sky. Start moving about your imaginary or real place and use your imagination to explore and create new scenes to delight you. Go with it, don’t force it. Follow your thoughts and invite along others who you please but above all make your thoughts happy joyful ones. If you are a bird, look down to the ground and see as much as you can below (I love this experience of flying free). Feel the delight of being free of gravity and lighter than air, go wherever you want.

Albert Einstein wrote “Imagination is greater than knowledge.” He is right of course; how could anyone argue with him? Let your imagination free your mind and be whatever you want to be. Visualization is about the mind observing detail and about an unfolding journey of your making. Leave your worries and cares behind, and travel in your mind to a place filled with beauty and wonder. It will not only help you relax but open up your creative channels.

Resources for relaxation techniques and meditation