| We all know what relaxation means, don't we? | | | | around the body which means that our |
| Actually few of us know what it means though | | | | extremities are starved of oxygen. Breathe in |
| everyone thinks that they understand the word. | | | | slowly rhythmically and shallowly to the count of |
| Oddly enough relaxation is the gradual lengthening | | | | eight, hold for eight seconds and exhale for eight |
| of muscle fibers. None of our muscles can work | | | | seconds. Whilst you first practice this you may |
| without muscular tension and without our muscles | | | | feel light headed as the blood takes more |
| working we could not move. Relaxation is best | | | | oxygenated blood to the tissues. |
| described in Chines the term "wu wei," is literally | | | | The brilliant thing about relaxing muscles it can be |
| "not forcing" and it refers to muscular control. | | | | done at any time you can practice deep breathing |
| Our blood flow sends the blood to the surface of | | | | techniques whilst you are reading this article. As |
| the hands and feet and all around the surface of | | | | you become more proficient at lengthening the |
| the body, this has the effect of nourishing all our | | | | muscles you will also become more aware of the |
| tissues and when the blood leaves it is detoxifying | | | | muscles being tense in the first place, because |
| the body, by removing the toxins. When we are | | | | relaxed muscles will feel so much better. |
| stressed the tissues become under nourished | | | | When your muscles are relaxed the brain cannot |
| because the blood flow is diverted away from the | | | | work as efficiently because it can't concentrate, |
| tissues to the muscles. Tenseness and anxiety | | | | and this makes it easier to fall asleep. Sleep is a |
| means that our muscle core gets greedy and | | | | healer it allows the body to rest and heal itself. |
| demands an unfair share of the nutrients, because | | | | Sleepiness can be promoted by relaxation |
| it requires them just to move. | | | | techniques, exercises and aromatherapy. |
| Be Aware of muscular tension | | | | In cancer patients side effects from the |
| Once you are consciously aware of muscle | | | | treatment and pain cause many cancer patients |
| tension then you can do something about it. | | | | to lose sleep. A recent Athens study carried out |
| Unfortunately most of us let tension creep up on | | | | by Dr Kyriaki Mystakidou, reviewed a 102 patients |
| us and we are not aware of it. Grip your | | | | with an average age of 62.8 years. Over a period |
| abdominal muscles tightly and feel your abdomen | | | | of ten months they had to evaluate the quality of |
| come in and up. Then gradually and slowly release | | | | their sleep, as well as their physical and mental |
| the tension in those muscles, the slow speed is an | | | | well being. The findings found a clear link between |
| important part of the process because it allows | | | | lack of sleep and cancer which indicates that a |
| the muscles to lengthen fully. Once you are aware | | | | treatment regime should incorporate relation |
| of that feeling of tension in any muscle group in | | | | techniques. |
| your body concentrate on releasing that tension | | | | Relax your muscles at home by having a warm |
| and lengthen the muscles. | | | | bath, visualizing a place that brings your |
| Most of us are shallow breathers and as a result | | | | contentment for ten minutes, soothing music and |
| of this when we inhale the blood does not fill the | | | | deep breathing techniques. |
| lungs, so consequently a half full breath gets sent | | | | |