Psychiatrist | 4 min read
5 Effective Relaxation Techniques to Reduce Stress
Medically reviewed by
- Table of Content
Key Takeaways
- Learn how to relax from stress for a healthy and peaceful life
- Music therapy and deep breathing are effective relaxation techniques
- Meditation and yoga fall among best relaxation exercises for anxiety
Today, as our life has become busier than before, it is important to learn how you can keep yourself relaxed. With the help of the right relaxation techniques, your body can naturally keep itself relaxed. Improved physical and emotional health are among the top benefits of relaxation techniques.
Stress relaxation techniques are usually different for everyone, but it is important to make sure that they do not aggravate the damage already caused by stress. Another important thing to ensure is that your method of relaxation truly works for you. You can figure that out by exploring different relaxation techniques. Read on to understand a few relaxation activities you can try in order to reduce stress.
Meditation
When it comes to relaxation, no one can deny the importance of meditation. The practice of meditation not only reduces stress but also helps with negative emotions like anger and fear. Meditating regularly also lowers the risk of ailments like bipolar disorder and depression as it keeps your mental health in check. Be sure to meditate at least once every day.
To ensure that your meditation is effective, sit in a quiet corner in a comfortable position while focusing on your breathing. If your body takes a while to relax or if your mind wanders, stay focused and gently bring your attention back to meditation. Be mindful that you do not block the thoughts but rather let them pass through your mind without any judgment.
Additional Read: Boost Your Mental Health Resolution This New Year With Meditation!Deep breathing
Among various relaxation techniques for stress, deep breathing is one of the top techniques. When done right, this relaxation technique can help you fight stress as well as anxiety by calming your mind. A key part of successfully relaxing through deep breathing is to focus on the breaths you take. The reason why deep breathing is so well known is that it is quite simple to do and can be coupled with other relaxation techniques. To get started, make sure that your posture is straight, relaxed, and comfortable. To guide yourself, you can keep one hand on your stomach and the other hand on your chest. This way, when you inhale, your hand on the stomach will rise, and the other hand will have minimal movement. Ensure that the same thing happens when you exhale with the other hand.
Massage
You can try self-massaging to reduce stress, especially when you have been sitting too long at your desk. Consider doing the following.
- Massage points on your palms.
- Massage your knees by stroking that area with your hands.
- Massage your neck using your fingers.
- Massage your head using your knuckles and fingers.
After performing these massages, keep your hands over your eyes and take deep breaths for a while. When you remove your hands and open your eyes again, you will feel much more relaxed and rejuvenated.
Music therapy
Listening to music is often a part of relaxing therapy because of its therapeutic effects. Research has shown that with the help of music therapy, people feel a significant improvement in their stress levels [1]. You can start off by including music in your routine tasks such as driving, cooking, and commuting. Listening to music before sleeping can help you get enough sleep and stay well-rested. However, choose soothing and restful music for this to work.
Yoga
Yoga is not known not only as one of the top relaxation techniques but also for improving your overall health. Research suggests that with yoga, you can relax your body by reducing anxiety and stress and help improve your flexibility, sleep, and strength. [2].
Yoga involves many kinds of poses and asanas that you can try, combined with breathing techniques. Yoga Nidra is a type of asana between wakefulness and sleep. Yoga Nidra benefits your health by increasing your mental clarity and confidence. Here are some other posts you can practice for stress relief.
- Cat to cow pose
- Bridge pose
- Child pose
- Standing forward bend
Now that you know what relaxation is and its significance, follow simple stress reduction techniques to lead a healthy lifestyle. They will also help you deal with work stress and give you a positive attitude for the day ahead. For more advice on relaxation techniques, consult health specialists on Bajaj Finserv Health. Book an online doctor consultation and resolve all your queries from the comfort of your home.
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- References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6485837/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3193654/
- Disclaimer
Please note that this article is solely meant for informational purposes and Bajaj Finserv Health Limited (“BFHL”) does not shoulder any responsibility of the views/advice/information expressed/given by the writer/reviewer/originator. This article should not be considered as a substitute for any medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult with your trusted physician/qualified healthcare professional to evaluate your medical condition. The above article has been reviewed by a qualified doctor and BFHL is not responsible for any damages for any information or services provided by any third party.