Wow,
I think that the "Journey to relaxation'" made me almost pass out. Focusing on teh background music and his voice is so relaxing. I think this is a great method to make a person relax. The end, even when he discusses feeling energized, it is a relaxed kind of energy.
Ironically enough, as a child I was taught how to do this by my uncle. He was a very spiritual person. He believes in magic and astro projection and other things of that nature. When he used to visit, we would talk about how difficult it was for me to sleep at night, and he taught me how to use a similar method to allow myself to fall asleep.
He taught me to basically shut down each part of my body starting with my toes. He said that when I close my eyes to focus on mentally telling my toes to feel heavy and to relax and fall asleep, and then move to each body part until I was asleep. after about 15 years of doing this, i think the farthest I have ever gotten is my chest. It really works.
You should try it and let me know how it works for you!!!
Colleen Huddleston
Awesome idea!!! We have a similar method of relaxation.You start with the toes and work your way up to the head. You actually tightening the muscles, holding them as tight as possible for a full deep breath releasing as you breath out. It works very well with children that suffer stress but don't recognize it as stress.
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to our journey!!!!
I feel strongly that what is learned at an early stage in the life we can turn it into something greater later in life. You have done just that with the technique that your uncle was able to share and teach you so that maybe you have or will pass along and share with your own children or other family members. I did place the head phones into my daughters ears after she entered my room just after I finished the exercise. She did follow the instructions and in that moment I felt that this was a good thing, that she will benefit from this moment in time that we created a memory that will hopefully follow her for her lifetime. It is strange to hear the words relaxing and energy in the same sentence because we automatically associate energy with something up-beat and constantly moving like the energizer rabbit. However, it is so true because energy is always moving and it exists even in a relaxted state. You have taught me something knew from your post Colleen and I thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteI also felt very relaxed and soothed by the music and the man's voice and have also had previous experience with meditative techniques. I have tried to use meditation to fall asleep and it does work, but I often like to use meditation as a break between daily stressors and home life. I love your comment about only making it to your chest because it was quite humorous, but also shows how effective it is for you. It is amazing the things we can accomplish if we just take the time to focus on them.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of this exercise, but every time I tried it my mind would wander and it never worked. Ironically, this is the same type of exercise I do during one of the dvd's I use to workout. Tighten each muscle for a certain amount of time and then relax it. Maybe I should give this a try again at night, since I am not sleeping as well as I should be. Great advice!
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that these exercise work, as long as the individual is fully invested in them. If there is the slightest bid of hesitation or doubt, then the exercise will not produce optimal results. I find the exercises to be very useful.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that these exercises work, but someone has to learn how to let him/herself completely relax in order for it to work. When my brother was young, he was diagnosed with Tourrette's and had many tics, both muscle and vocal. One of his psychiatrists had taught him meditation, and encouraged him to use it as a way of possibly decreasing the frequency and length of his tics. It worked for a long time, until he eventually had outgrown the tics. I know that I definitely need to take some time every day for myself to engage in meditation and it would begin to help my stress level to decrease.
ReplyDeleteRelaxation is necessary for the mind and one's overall physical health. I've found that being in a quiet environment helps with relaxation.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed doing the journey to relaxation. I think that I am going to take this to my boss tomorrow and ask if we can try it on our patients. It may help some of them to relax a bit!
ReplyDeleteI think it is really interesting that you start relaxation with your toes. That is so cool! lol I will defiantly have to try that. I enjoyed reading your post. Relaxation is defiantly important to a persons well-being. Your Uncle sounds like a great man.
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