Easy Relaxation Techniques for Busy People

Care for yourself more with these easy relaxation techniques. If you are finding it hard to unwind, create just a little bit of time each day to improve your well-being.

Don't accept always feeling stressed or anxious as a normal part of life. There are easy ways you can learn to unwind and create some calm in your busy world.

Have you ever looked at other people and wondered how they remain so calm and relaxed, while you're a quivering mass of stress and tension? I certainly used to! But now that I've healed myself and changed my whole outlook on life, I've become one of those calm and relaxed people I used to envy. And you can too!

Being able to relax is vital for your overall health on all levels - physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. And I'm not just referring to slumping in front of the TV at the end of the day.

We all need some regular form of deep relaxation to feel our best. And the better we feel, the more easily we cope with life in general.

Benefits of Easy Relaxation Techniques

• On a physical level, there will be a decrease in your heart and breathing rate, a lowering of your blood pressure, and less muscle tension throughout your body. Your coronary arteries will also dilate, reducing the risk of chronic heart disease
• Mentally, there will be an increase in your alpha brain wave activity, which is a slower and more relaxed state for the brain to be in
• After a few weeks of practising these easy relaxation techniques at least once a day, you will find you tend to feel more relaxed all the time
• If you tend to experience anxiety, you should notice that your general anxiety levels have reduced
• Regular, deep relaxation helps prevent stress levels from building up over time
• Allowing yourself to relax during the day will improve your ability to sleep well at night
• It's great for the immune system because it supports our body's ability to produce antibodies
• You'll likely notice an increase in your energy levels and general feeling of wellness
• Your memory and ability to concentrate and focus will also improve
• People who practice regular deep relaxation often report improved feelings of self-confidence and generally a more positive outlook on life

Of course, there are many more great reasons to practice these easy relaxation techniques.

Okay, so you've decided you'd like to begin experiencing these benefits - let's get started.

Easy Relaxation Techniques

1. Deep Breathing Exercises

Yes, everyone's heard of deep breathing exercises and how good they are for you. But how many people actually put them into practice?

Deep breathing into the abdomen is deeply (pardon the pun) underrated. Nothing relaxes and calms you as quickly and easily as slow abdominal breathing.

And its so easy to do!

You only need to spend about five to ten minutes doing a session of deep breathing to feel wonderful afterward. Surely you can give yourself 10 minutes of your own time at least once or twice a day - you are worth it, and the rest of the world can wait!

When you breathe in, you are not just taking in air. The breath takes in the life-force of the Universe, referred to as prana in Sanskrit or chi in Chinese. Breathing in correctly gives vitality to your whole being, and breathing out releases tension and worries.

Please click here to go to my page all about Deep Breathing Exercises, and start feeling more relaxed every day!

2. Meditation

I can't rave enough about the amazing effects regular meditation has had on my life. I have been a regular meditator for the last 15 years, and it has certainly changed me and my life.

If you aren't giving yourself the gift of making the time to meditate, then I would highly recommend it. I have dedicated a whole section of my website to meditation for beginners, so to learn more about one of the best ways to relax, please click here to go to my opening page on meditation, and you can follow further links from there.

3. Alternate Nostril Breathing

Alternate nostril breathing is incredibly simple yet wonderfully calming. One of the great things about it is that you can do it just about anywhere. Click here to learn more, and for my easy-to-follow instructions.

4. Flower Essences

Flower essences are amazing! They are also sometimes known as flower remedies. If you haven't heard of this type of natural therapy before, then you can find out more on my pages dedicated to flower essences.

Briefly, flower essences are a type of vibrational healing, or energy medicine. They help us to heal ourselves by working on our body's energy system. They are totally safe and natural, and have many benefits.

I am a flower essence practitioner, and really love working with the flower essences.

So, why I have included flower essences on my page about easy relaxation techniques?

Well, there are several essences you could try that will help you to relax. Here are some of my suggestions:

• Black-Eyed Susan - this is a great remedy for stress. This essence will help those who are always rushing about, feeling irritable and impatient, and finding it hard to slow down. Taking this remedy will help you to let go, and find that still, calm place deep inside yourself. A great idea is to take this remedy along with trying some of my other best ways to relax, as it will enhance your other relaxation work.
• Boronia - this is a great remedy for those who have obsessive thoughts that go round and around in their head, and they find it very difficult to stop them. Boronia will release these thoughts, and allow the mind to quieten and be calm. White Chestnut also has a similar effect.
• Crowea - this is the remedy for worry. If you find you can't relax due to constant worrying, Crowea will help you to relax and unwind. It is also good for releasing tension in the muscles.
• Macrocarpa - when people are constantly stressed and rushing around, their adrenal glands work overtime producing stress-related hormones. This leaves people feeling tired and burnt-out, yet unable to relax. Macrocarpa will work on re-balancing the adrenal glands, which will revitalise you but also allow you to get the deep rest and relaxation that your body needs.

If you would like my assistance in choosing flower essences for your own needs, you can contact me here. If you like, I can provide you with your own personal flower essence mix. There is a flower essence to suit any situation.

Need help dealing with worry and stress?
Try the amazing Flower Essences!
Click here to go to my flower essence services

5. Tissue Salts

What on earth are tissue salts I hear you ask? Well, they are a totally safe and easy natural remedy that can be taken for just about anything - including helping you to relax.

To learn more about what tissue salts are, and the best ones to take for relaxing, please click on this link to go to my page about relaxing with the tissue salts.

6. Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Progressive muscle relaxation is a deep relaxation activity that was developed by Dr Edmund Jacobson back in 1929. He discovered that if you tense a muscle for a few seconds and then release it, the muscle will relax.

Dr Jacobson recognised the link between excessive muscle tension and various disorders of the mind and body. He once said "An anxious mind cannot exist in a relaxed body." Certainly a good reason to include this technique in the best ways to relax.

To learn more about Progressive Muscle Relaxation and how to do this relaxation technique, please click on this link.

7. Guided Relaxation Meditation

Meditations using visualisations of a peaceful scene that you immerse yourself in, are a very enjoyable way to experience a deeply relaxed state. You can practice them on their own, or you can do a guided relaxation meditation after practising some of the other best ways to relax, such as the deep breathing exercises or progressive muscle relaxation.

They really work to enhance your state of relaxation.

Click on this link to go to my guided relaxation meditation.

Please enjoy!

Some More Easy Relaxation Ideas

Below are some more great ideas for relaxing activities. They may not provide your body with the same deep relaxation that you get from meditation or deep breathing exercises, but relaxing activities such as these are still a very important part of life.

Relaxing activities distract your mind from everything else that is going on in your life. When you allow yourself to focus on something you enjoy, or treat yourself to something like a massage, you give your mind and emotions a much needed break.

8. Spend Time Enjoying a Hobby

Everyone has something they're interested in (outside of work, of course). And everyone needs something fun and creative in their life that they can spend time enjoying. For me, it's pottering around outside in my garden, as well as creating this website. For my husband, it's woodworking out in his shed. My youngest son relaxes by building with Lego, which he loves.

It could be anything - gardening, fishing, reading a good book, sewing, photography, collecting, painting, or a million other things I could never even think of. If you don't think you have an interest, start looking for ideas.

When we spend quality time focusing on a hobby or pastime, our mind is distracted from the worries, stresses and mundane routine that can be a part of everyday life. When we do something that brings us joy and pleasure, our racing thoughts slow down and our body relaxes.

When you give your attention to something relaxing and enjoyable, your brain begins to move away from the aroused beta brain wave state, and begins to produce some low-range alpha waves which indicate a more relaxed state. In this state, your body also begins to produce calming neuro-chemicals, (so long as your hobby isn't stressing you out.)

So apart from being fun, spending time on an enjoyable or creative outlet is very good for your health - mentally and physically.

9. Spend Time in Nature

Spending time in nature is just blissful! But unfortunately, so many people just don't take the time to absorb the wonderfully relaxing and healing vibrations that you get just from being with nature.

Modern Western lifestyles mean so many of us have lost touch with the inherent connection we have with Earth. But nature provides us with so many healing properties.

If you take the time to notice, whenever you walk in the park, sit in a garden, or hike in the bush (as we call it here in Australia), you feel "different". You are being influenced by the harmonious vibrations of the plants, trees and all the natural things that surround you. Nature provides one of the best ways to relax.

So make the time to appreciate the peaceful and relaxing qualities of nature, wherever that may be for you. But when you go for a walk in the park or forest, leave the ipod or Walkman at home, and enjoy the peaceful sounds around you.

10. Watch a Funny Movie

Nothing gets the feel-good chemicals pumping around your body better than laughter. And who doesn't feel more relaxed after a good belly laugh?

When you watch a funny movie and laugh, not only is it a lot of fun, but your body releases some wonderful healing biochemicals into your bloodstream.

These different chemicals do various things, including:
- improve your mood and your general outlook on life
- decrease your stress levels
- strengthen your immune system
- reduce your anxiety
- reduce pain levels.

Laughing at a funny movie gives our busy minds the opportunity to be distracted from any worries or stresses, and I really enjoy laughter as one of the best ways to relax.

11. Enjoy a Cup of Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea is generally made from the fresh or dried flowers of the German chamomile plant (matricaria recutita), and is readily available in teabags at supermarkets or health food stores.

Chamomile tea has long been well known for it's tranquilising and relaxing effects, and so is a useful supplement for those who experience stress, anxiety or insomnia.

I quite enjoy the taste of a warm cup of chamomile tea, but if you prefer you could add a little honey and lemon. It's a pleasant way to unwind at the end of a busy day.

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