In times of great tension, relaxation is a remedy against stress and anxiety. It is a simple and very effective remedy to calm the nerves, reduce fatigue and improve mood.
WHAT IS RELAXATION?
Relaxing means changing the pace and enjoying - even for a few minutes - a state of calm.
Relaxation is actually a state in which we experience a decrease in muscle stiffness and mental tension.
To relax it is enough to predispose ourselves in a state of stillness (sitting, lying down ..) and focus attention on our breathing and the movements that occur. There are many relaxation and breathing techniques, but in general it is enough to assume an observer role:
watching the air entering and exiting through the nose
watching the chest inflate and empty
observing the diaphragm going down when we breathe in and up when we exhale
observing the parts of the body and their movements
WHY IS RELAXATION A REMEDY AGAINST STRESS?
When our stress levels increase, the body and mind undergo many changes such as:
increased blood pressure (which we experience as anxiety, nervousness, hypertension...)
increased heart rate (in the form of palpitations, panic attacks...)
increased adrenaline and cortisol (nerves, irritability..)
the liver increases the level of sugar in the blood (weight gain, diabetes...)
muscle tension (which generates muscle aches..)
nervous tension (which causes headache, upset stomach, sleep problems...)
shortness of breath (characteristic in states of anxiety or discomfort.)
carbon dioxide levels are reduced, blood acidity is altered and toxins cannot be removed with air (leading to tiredness and discomfort.)
These alterations - if they occur in a constant and lasting way - affect our quality of life and our health. For this reason it is important to take measures to control stress and learning to relax helps us a lot in this regard. In fact, relaxation is a remedy against stress and anxiety.
WHICH ARE THE BENEFITS OF RELAXATION?
Relaxation helps us to lower our inner rhythm and helps us in our day to day to feel better. To relax we can add habits in our day to day, such as:
do breathing exercises (even for 5 minutes)
practice Taichi, Gigong or Yoga
reading a book or listening to music that relaxes you
walking in nature without using your mobile phone
get a massage
receive acupuncture
Relaxing from time to time brings many benefits. In short, it improves our quality of life. Among the benefits of relaxation we find:
that reduces blood pressure and - therefore - reduces the risk of cardiovascular disorders
that reduces nervous tension and muscle tension
improves physical and cognitive performance, makes us more attentive and more confident
improves sleep and mood
[1] Guía del antiestrés
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