Friday, August 21, 2009

The Many Benefits Of Relaxation

By Arthur Glassman

Stress is a well known contributor to the development of disease. And we live in a world full of stress with less and less time to relax. Not a very good combination. Relaxation is the key to a healthy life. It can significantly reduce the stress levels and give our bodies an opportunity to unwind. In this article we'll take a closer look at the benefits of relaxation.

The benefits of relaxation are numerous, both psychological and physical, and have been well researched. Everyone can benefit greatly from learning even the most basic relaxation techniques.

To be effective, relaxation must be done regularly - at least 3 times a week and no, watching television doesn't count. Practicing it can help you lower your blood pressure, slow your heart rate, strengthen your immune system, reduce the risk of heart disease, reduce muscle tension and back pain, counteract the effects of aging, reduce risk of a number of diseases, and many more physiological benefits.

How about psychological benefits? They are also many and include emotional stability, increased concentration and memory, better problem solving abilities, less anxiety, less anger, less frustration, decreased depression, greater creativity, increased ability to think clearly, greater efficiency, prevention of more serious mental illnesses, and many more.

Relaxation is a very powerful tool and it would be a shame not to use it. In general, it has the power to make a person more confident, comfortable, optimistic, balanced, and overall happier.

There are plenty of choices, if you wish to research this subject further. You could try many relaxation techniques - from Yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, to music, exercise, massage, deep breathing, and visualization.

For starters, you could simply turn of any distractions, like TV, sit comfortably or lie down, and close your eyes. With some meditative music you could be relaxing in no time. Audio guided relaxation is one of the easiest ways to start. - 14130

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