What is relaxation?

Definition:

Relaxation is a state of being free from tension and anxiety.

There are many ways to think about how we relax as individuals. Many people use everyday pursuits such as reading a book, listening to music, singing, spending time with friends or persuing other hobbies as forms of relaxation.

However there are also specific relaxation techniques:

To relax tense or anxious breathing - diaphragmatic breathing.
To relax tense muscles - tension focussed –massage, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation.
To relax a tense or anxious mind - mindfulness, guided imagery (visualisation).

Sometimes a combination of these is key to finding the relaxation which will suit your patient/client.