Relaxation is an increasingly important aspect of our daily lives and is closely related to each individual’s personal well-being. There are studies that demonstrate that this practice offers multiple benefits for the individual; from regulating blood pressure to inducing a greater predominance of positive thoughts that the state of rest itself induces.
“State of a person in which he/she is sensitive to the good functioning of his/her somatic and psychic activity”. Definition of well-being according to the Royal Spanish Academy
One of the definitions of well-being states that it is “the state of a person in which the good functioning of his or her somatic and psychic activity is sensitive”, and we could add emotional, since it is an aspect that if it does not present a minimum of balance, it is difficult to enjoy a good sense of well-being.
Today, we have different tools, techniques, or methods to help release physical, mental, and emotional tensions. Generally, these techniques favor reaching a higher level of calmness, thus reducing stress and anxiety; and if we support it correctly with good aspects that help us program our lives positively, it will provide a higher degree of relaxation for oneself and also for those around us.
Relaxing means calming the mind and body. Take a deep breath. Hold the breath for a moment, and then exhale. With a slow rhythm of breathing that helps decrease the pace of thoughts. And releasing muscle tension. Perhaps it may be a little difficult at first, but regular practice will make you feel more comfortable. Inhale – hold – exhale – hold, and so on in cycles from 15 – 20 seconds onwards.
Mastering states of relaxation at will will also alleviate states of anxiety, depression, and sleep problems.
Progressive muscle relaxation involves tensing and relaxing each group of muscles and can be combined with breathing exercises. This creates more awareness of the real state of your body and will help you notice improvement over time.
Massage techniques are an alternative to achieve a deep state of relaxation because the therapist’s manipulations promote the release of tension, leading to a state of disconnection where muscles become less tense and more flexible. Relaxing massage promotes a calm mental and physical state that we appreciate more when our daily rhythm does not allow us to stop and be aware of what our true state of well-being really is. Once we can see this aspect, we can ask ourselves, is this the level of well-being I want to enjoy?
