How to "relax"?
- Thread starter nancy324
- Start date
endorphin_junkie
Cathlete
RE: How to
How can something that we all need so much be so elusive?!?! Relaxation, like meditation sounds easy but can be so difficult because of the distracting nature of the mind, I have to be pretty much exhausted to be able to 'couch it' for more than a few minutes without guilt or the irresistable urge to get up and do the things that need doing. I agree that I 'relax' (in that my battery gets recharged) when my heart rate is through the roof but for me the 'chillaxin' aspect of relaxation occurs when I remove myself from my home for the day. In summer it's easier, a picnic basket at the beach or day trip to a friend's cottage works beautifully, there are no chores or errands to interrupt my quietude. I am partial to massage for relaxation, it's amazing how stress manifests itself physically in places I didn't even know about until there is a release on the table. I feel fortunate in my profession as a Massage Therapist, so many people seek massage to de-stress so the room is lit softly with music to get lost in. I will never underestimate the power of slow deep breathing as a window into the 'rest and digest' part of our nervous system. We all know the 'fight or flight' all too well! What constitutes true relaxation is so completely subjective. I can just picture you in full relaxation mode Nancy with a glass of wine and some "Will and Grace" re-runs
Take Care
Laurie
How can something that we all need so much be so elusive?!?! Relaxation, like meditation sounds easy but can be so difficult because of the distracting nature of the mind, I have to be pretty much exhausted to be able to 'couch it' for more than a few minutes without guilt or the irresistable urge to get up and do the things that need doing. I agree that I 'relax' (in that my battery gets recharged) when my heart rate is through the roof but for me the 'chillaxin' aspect of relaxation occurs when I remove myself from my home for the day. In summer it's easier, a picnic basket at the beach or day trip to a friend's cottage works beautifully, there are no chores or errands to interrupt my quietude. I am partial to massage for relaxation, it's amazing how stress manifests itself physically in places I didn't even know about until there is a release on the table. I feel fortunate in my profession as a Massage Therapist, so many people seek massage to de-stress so the room is lit softly with music to get lost in. I will never underestimate the power of slow deep breathing as a window into the 'rest and digest' part of our nervous system. We all know the 'fight or flight' all too well! What constitutes true relaxation is so completely subjective. I can just picture you in full relaxation mode Nancy with a glass of wine and some "Will and Grace" re-runs
Take Care
Laurie
endorphin_junkie
Cathlete
RE: How to
I'll meet you in the middle in about 4 hours ;-)
Take Care
Laurie
I'll meet you in the middle in about 4 hours ;-) Take Care
Laurie
melodygirl
Cathlete
RE: How to
Nancy,
Lie down outdoors in the grass on a sunny day with a young child(ren)and as the breeze blows -- breath, listen, and see the world through the eyes of a child. Young children can teach us true relaxation if we let them because they haven't become part of the cynical world...yet.
I think we as adults have difficulty relaxing because we don't feel we "should" just do nothing...we loose that childlike quality. However, just doing nothing or doing something we absolutely love for the fun of it replenishes our souls for our day to day lives.
Come on down to Georgia and give the lying in the grass thing a try.
Nancy,
Lie down outdoors in the grass on a sunny day with a young child(ren)and as the breeze blows -- breath, listen, and see the world through the eyes of a child. Young children can teach us true relaxation if we let them because they haven't become part of the cynical world...yet.
I think we as adults have difficulty relaxing because we don't feel we "should" just do nothing...we loose that childlike quality. However, just doing nothing or doing something we absolutely love for the fun of it replenishes our souls for our day to day lives.
Come on down to Georgia and give the lying in the grass thing a try.
melodygirl
Cathlete
RE: How to
Thanks, Robyn.
Hey, Nance, are you relaxing yet?
Thanks, Robyn.
Hey, Nance, are you relaxing yet?
SRP
Cathlete
RE: How to
Hey Nancy -
Relaxing, to me, does not equate with "doing nothing." I know some people like to kick back in front of the TV. Things that are realaxing to me include gardening, painting, taking a long walk, some house projects as long as they don't require a hammer and nails and stuff like that. I like to be busy and active. Exercise is very relaxing to me!
Things that I don't like are large crowds. I don't care what the reason is, even if it's the funnest thing I've ever done in my life. If there are too many people, I'll stress out.
Let's see. I think I read this (not verbatim) in Dr. DiNubile's book, Frame Work. He basically says that in order for the mind to relax, it needs to play. It needs to be active, but also able to disengage from the daily routine and stuff, I guess.
Hey Nancy -
Relaxing, to me, does not equate with "doing nothing." I know some people like to kick back in front of the TV. Things that are realaxing to me include gardening, painting, taking a long walk, some house projects as long as they don't require a hammer and nails
and stuff like that. I like to be busy and active. Exercise is very relaxing to me! Things that I don't like are large crowds. I don't care what the reason is, even if it's the funnest thing I've ever done in my life. If there are too many people, I'll stress out.
Let's see. I think I read this (not verbatim) in Dr. DiNubile's book, Frame Work. He basically says that in order for the mind to relax, it needs to play. It needs to be active, but also able to disengage from the daily routine and stuff, I guess.
melodygirl
Cathlete
RE: How to
"Let's see. I think I read this (not verbatim) in Dr. DiNubile's book, Frame Work. He basically says that in order for the mind to relax, it needs to play. It needs to be active, but also able to disengage from the daily routine and stuff, I guess."
>Shannon
That's it Shannon, that's what I was saying. You have to make time for what feeds that inner person. Now, I need to go take my own advise as I have managed to stress myself today.
"Let's see. I think I read this (not verbatim) in Dr. DiNubile's book, Frame Work. He basically says that in order for the mind to relax, it needs to play. It needs to be active, but also able to disengage from the daily routine and stuff, I guess."
>Shannon
That's it Shannon, that's what I was saying.
You have to make time for what feeds that inner person. Now, I need to go take my own advise as I have managed to stress myself today.