Relaxation and its 10 benefits

Relaxation is one of the easiest ways to improve health and vitality. Without regular relaxation, stress levels can creep up to very high levels which have a negative impact on health. Relaxation practices should ideally set aside time each day, as well as longer breaks on a weekly, monthly, and yearly rotation.

Physical symptoms such as headaches, tension in the neck and shoulders, dizziness, fatigue and lack of sleep can be the result of excessive stress. Stress can also affect our mental state because it increases cortisol levels; hormones that affect brain function.

This can lead to worry, poor concentration, difficulty making decisions and uncontrollable thoughts. There are also emotional symptoms such as irritability, feeling overwhelmed, anxiety, low self-esteem and depression.

A person under high stress can cause aggressive or defensive behavior, avoidance of situations, poor communication, drinking too much alcohol and smoking.
Excessive stress over a long period of time can also cause fatigue.

According to mentalhelp.net "The byproduct of the stress hormone can act as a sedative (a chemical that causes us to be calm or tired). When these hormone byproducts occur in large quantities (which would occur in chronic stress conditions), they can contribute to feelings of low energy or ongoing depression.

Practicing 'relaxation' is essential for managing stress. When we are relaxed, the blood flow increases throughout our body giving us more energy.

Here are 10 health benefits of relaxation:

• Increase Concentration
  The first benefit of relaxation is that it can increase concentration. If stress begins to overwhelm your ability to focus, it can be difficult to complete even simple tasks. Relaxation techniques can help give you something else to focus on, giving your mind a chance to clear your mind.

• Improve Digestion
  The benefits of relaxation can also improve digestive health. According to our gastroenterologist, relaxation seems to help those with GI disorders by reducing pain and helping manage irritability.

• Increases Blood Flow
  The next benefit of relaxation is to help improve blood flow. Relaxation can help your arteries expand slightly, allowing blood flow to increase. It also increases the amount of oxygen reaching your body tissues.

• Reducing Anger and Frustration
  This relaxation benefit is very necessary for people with heavy workloads and busy schedules. This is because anger and frustration will not solve the problem so it will make you even more stressed. Taking a moment to relax can bring your emotions down.

Anger and frustration also strain your muscles. Muscle tension is a sign of stress, and relaxation techniques can help you relax those muscles and feel calmer.

• Lowering Blood Pressure
  The next benefit of relaxation is lowering blood pressure. When your body reaches a state of relaxation, your breathing slows down and causes your body to slow down other functions. When your heart rate slows down, your overall blood pressure drops.

• Lowering the Risk of Stroke
  According to a recent study, people who are best able to cope with stressful events have a 24% lower risk of stroke. Relaxation techniques can be useful coping mechanisms.

• Supporting Emotional Wellbeing
  Research has linked chronic stress to killing brain cells. When the stress hormone called cortisol increases, there is also a decrease in the amount of serotonin and dopamine, and that has been linked to depression.

The benefits of relaxation can support your emotional well-being so you can be more in control.

• Reduce Fatigue
  Relaxation techniques are best combined with a consistent sleep schedule, and limiting caffeine and alcohol. All of them can contribute to getting a better night's rest. Clearing your mind of stressors before bed will lead to less anxiety.

• Reduces Inflammation
  Stress can affect your body's ability to fight common illnesses, such as the cold. Inflammation can develop more quickly when you are stressed, which can change your immune response. With a weaker immune system and higher levels of inflammation, you are less likely to feel uncomfortable.

• Slows down Heart Rate
  Stress can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and other heart problems. When your body is relaxed, you protect your heart by slowing down your heart rate.

Relaxation Techniques
There are so many health benefits associated with relaxation, so it's important to know how to relax and find a method that works for you. Every body is different, and although you may have tried meditation or common stress-reducing techniques that haven't worked for you, don't stop there. The following are the relaxation techniques:

1. Breathing. Learning to control your breathing (through exercises such as deep breathing) will help your body take in more oxygen, which helps relieve anxiety, slows your heart rate, and stabilizes blood pressure.

2. Meditation. There are several forms of meditation that involve chanting mantras, engaging in certain postures, and using breathing exercises that promote positive body awareness and a sense of peace.

3. Yoga. This popular exercise also combines postures with breathing exercises. Yoga not only helps calm the mind, but also improves flexibility, muscle tone, and balance the systems in your body.

4. Tai Chi and Qigong. These two practices use a different set of movements combining slow circular movements with deep breathing, meditation and self-massage. They're great for light exercise, improving circulation, and getting a strong sense of energy.

5. Progressive muscle relaxation. By gradually tensing and releasing muscle groups, you can become more aware of how your body feels when you are stressed or relaxed, and develop strategies for dealing more actively with stress-related tension.

6. Visualization. A variation of this technique involves connecting visual images and physical sensations. By imagining a calming atmosphere and focusing on the details, it will be easier to get rid of stressful thoughts and focus on relaxing your physical body.

7. Hypnosis. Administered by licensed therapists, hypnosis helps eliminate distracting brain activity and focus on specific suggestions related to positive thinking.

Thus this article, hope it is useful. Thank you for stopping by and reading