Stress Relief: The Relaxation Response

The relaxation response, which is the opposite of the stress response, is a state of deep relaxation in which breathing and heart rate slows and blood pressure is reduced.

The relaxation response breaks the train of everyday thoughts and reduces the static we often have running in our minds. Various practices or activities are likely to bring it about:
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Mindfulness
• Guided imagery
• Listening to music
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Qigong
• Tai chi

Here are a few of the remarkable health benefits of eliciting the relaxation response:

Meditation

• Reduces blood pressure and may reduce mortality in patients with hypertension.
• Lowers pain 40-50% compared to controls.
• Heightens immunity
• Increases activity in the part of the brain associated with positive emotions and memory
• Helps insomnia, and anxiety
• Induces a sense of well-being

Guided imagery

• Reduces pain and recovery time after surgery
• Enhances immunity
• Improves sleep
• Can lower blood pressure
• Reduces anxiety and medication use during medical procedures
• Reduces allergic symptoms

The impact of these practices can be profoundly helpful in promoting health and well-being in your life. Even better, they are skills that can be readily learned.