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Relaxation Hints and Tips
Relaxation Hints and Tips
Life is busy. The daily commute, the weekly shop – even going out for a coffee – wherever we go, there are queues, confrontations and stressors that raise the blood pressure and leave you with a general feeling of frustration, anxiety or discomfort. In today’s digital world, we are contactable anywhere and any time of the day or night. Regardless of whether you work at home part-time or in the City 12 hours a day, life can be stressful and at times overwhelming, and an incredibly important skill for us all to learn is to take ‘time out’ and effectively relax.
At Massage Magic, our speciality is helping people to relax and feel revived and refreshed. Our specialist treatment room is away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and is a computer and phone free zone! When was the last time you were able to sit quietly, be pampered and focus entirely on yourself for an hour? I’m guessing that it may not have been for a while…
As well as helping people relax in-house, we also try and share some positive hints and tips for successful relaxation with our customers. For example, if you are looking to transfer some of the benefits from our Aromatherapy treatments to your home life, why not consider using essential oils in a specialist fragrance burner, or using candles scented with essential oils when you are trying to relax? Chamomile, Lavender and Geranium essential oils all have calming properties that could help to enhance your relaxation efforts at home.
Deep breathing techniques can also help if you are trying to relax more effectively. The NHS website gives the following advice for breathing exercises designed to tackle anxiety and stress:
“Make yourself as comfortable as you can. If you can, loosen any clothes that restrict your breathing.
If you’re lying down, place your arms a little bit away from your sides, with the palms up. Let your legs be straight, or bend your knees so your feet are flat on the floor. If you’re sitting, place your arms on the chair arms. If you’re sitting or standing, place both feet flat on the ground. Whatever position you’re in, place your feet roughly hip-width apart.
- Let your breath flow as deep down into your belly as is comfortable, without forcing it.
- Try breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth.
- Breathe in gently and regularly. Some people find it helpful to count steadily from one to five. You may not be able to reach five at first.
- Then, without pausing or holding your breath, let it flow out gently, counting from one to five again, if you find this helpful.
- Keep doing this for three to five minutes.”[1]
Whatever you do to relax, try to ensure that you take a little time out every day to focus on yourself, with no distractions. If you feel unsettled, try to establish what exactly it is that is worrying you and make a note of it so that you can consider addressing it later. It is so easy to lose yourself in the crush of day to day life, so for the benefit of your own health and wellbeing, make a habit of taking some time out. If you find it hard to relax effectively on your own, feel free to book yourself in for an appointment with Julia at Massage Magic and she will work with you to establish an effective relaxation routine that works for you.
Have a relaxing day!
[1] http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/ways-relieve-stress.aspx
