3 Relaxation Techniques You Need to Try

Stress, stress, stress … it exists in all forms, from the loud noises that you hear while sitting in a traffic jam, to the dread that you feel in the pit of your stomach as you look over your end-of-month bills.

As a result, stress leads to anxiety, which can cause extreme tension in your muscles, make your heart race, and leave you altogether jumpy as you go about your daily routine (or try to).

Luckily, there are ways for you to relieve these moments of stress. Take a look at these three relaxation techniques:

Meditation

Sometimes when we stress, we forget to breathe slowly – or at all. This can cause your chest to tighten and quicken your heart-rate, inducing feelings of panic.

To counter this, sit comfortably on the floor while wearing loose clothing. Then, close your eyes, and recite a positive mantra such as “I feel at peace.” As you say these words, focus on your breathing – let your breaths, deep and slow, move in time with your mantra.

By the end of the mediation, you will find yourself much more calm and relaxed.

Visualisation

Visualisation – also known as “guided imagery” – involves imagining a scene in which you feel at peace.

Find a quiet spot at home or at work to carry out this meditative exercise. Then, mentally conjure up whatever setting that is most calming to you, such as a tropical beach, a magnificent garden, or a green forest from your childhood.

Listening to sound recordings online or making use of apps can also help better your visualisation experience.

Tai Chi

Combining breathing and meditation components with fluid, circular movements, tai chi helps to build both your upper and lower body strength.

From improving your joints to providing stress relief, this martial art will make working out all the more enjoyable – and soothing, too.