When many of us hear the word relaxation, our minds conjure up pictures of lying on an idyllic beach, sipping cocktails from coconuts, white sandy beaches stretching out for miles on end. But the harsh reality is that very few of us will ever live this perfect dream.The stress of modern life can make real relaxation an elusive dream. The continuing pressures of everyday life take a heavy toll on the physical and mental well-being of millions of people each year. In the course of a day, people are frequently distracted from their activities by personal problems – conflicts with a family member, disagreements with employers, poor living or working conditions to name just a few. It is so easy for a person to get so pre-occupied with living, thinking, organising, existing, and working that a person disregards his or her needs for relaxation.Many studies now show conclusively that stress and tension are major contributing factors in most illnesses. Medical research into the origins of common diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers and headaches shows the connection between stress and the development of such ailments. In the area of mental health, stress frequently underlies emotional and behavioural problems, including nervous breakdowns. Yet in all honesty there is no reason why life has to be filled with anxiety and stress. If you take some time to learn the art of relaxation, you can easily rediscover the enjoyment in life.This brings us to the “What”, what is relaxation?It is surprising how few people know about the art of relaxation. Yes it is wonderful to spend the day at the spa BUT if you spend that day worrying about life then you have not reduced stress you have simply increased your stress levels. I know that to a lot of people it may seem counter-productive to set aside time to relax in the midst of a busy day or schedule but doing so can actually help us to increase our productivity, accomplish more in less time and feel happier overall. Now that sounds good to me!So now to get to the question of relaxation, relaxation is more than getting away from the work-a-day grind, and it is more than the absence of stress. It is a satisfying feeling in which one experiences peace of mind. True relaxation requires becoming sensitive to one’s basic needs for peace, self-awareness, the willingness to meet these needs rather than ignoring or dismissing them. Relaxation is our natural state. We just learn to be un-relaxed, but we can re-learn how to be relaxed again.Our minds are too busy most of the time as it is. We usually allow tension to be in our bodies, because we do not know it is there. We may even believe that it is normal to have tension in our bodies and that we just have to accept it as a normal part of life. But it is not normal to be tense. We may need to “learn” to relax, just as we have learnt to be tense. For a moment think about what it might be like if your body was relaxed, if you weren’t stressed in any way? For many of us, this is not even possible to imagine, we have been tense and tight for so long. But the good news is that it is possible to feel relaxed and stress free. Some of the benefits of relaxation:-gives the heart a rest by slowing the heart rate-reduces blood pressure-decreases muscle tension-increases blood flow to the musclesAs a result of relaxation, many people experience:-more energy-better sleep-enhanced immunity-increased concentration-better problem-solving abilities-greater efficiency-smoother emotions – less anger, crying, anxiety, frustration-less headaches and painsWhy is relaxation so good for us?-restores our energy-repairs our bodies-calms our thoughts and improves focus-lifts our moods-stimulates our creativityI have found that by practicing relaxation regularly, a person can really reduce the effects of stress on the body and can make their life more balanced and peaceful. The kind of relaxation I guide can help a person learn to release many harmful energies from the body, energies such as fear, tension, stress, anger, grief, and all other negative emotions. This program integrates many techniques into an easy-to-follow and easy-to-do format. The exercises provided in these classes can definitely help you learn to relax. They are designed to keep you in an experiential mode, rather than just processing information. Relaxation is an important key to a healthy mind, and body and I believe that learning to relax deeply is clearly one of the best things you can do for your body, your mind and your soul.In order for you to make a change today, contact me to set up an appointment. Classes can be scheduled for during the day or for certain evenings. Classes can be done individually or if you want to round up your friends or family (more than 5 people) a group class can also be scheduled.
Make today the day that you give yourself a gift of a calmer, happier Life.
