Physical movement from tension to relaxation :

Relaxation is a natural biological process. When I state a relaxation, I am aware and note that within seconds every biological system within me states changing from arousal to relaxation.

For me, when I move from tension to relaxation, I sense my muscles simply letting go – relaxing the body and calming the mind. I particular am aware of holding tension in the shoulders, often at work when I am using the computer. I love just rolling and/or letting my shoulders drop. Relaxing doesn't have to mean total slothfulness.

I also like to intentional apply tension and then let it go. The tension process I apply to a muscle is essentially the same regardless of which muscle group I am are using. First, I focus my mind on the muscle group; for example, my right hand. Then inhale and simply squeeze the muscles as hard as I can for about 8 seconds; in the example, this would involve making a tight fist with my hand.

Then I let all the tightness flow out of the muscles as I simultaneously exhale. In the example, this would be imagining tightness flowing out of my hand through my fingertips as you exhale. I feel and if possible watch the muscles relax and become loose and limp, tension flowing away like water out of a faucet.

Mental movement from tension to relaxation

Moving to clarity and detachment. Just as it is necessary to release the tensions in the muscles, it is also essential to release the tensions in the mind. When living in the now, events are experienced as much less stressful and difficult since there is less worry about the past and less fretting over the future. I get mental tension by preoccupations about the past or desires for the future (bills, arguments, etc). Whereas if and when I bring myself in the here and now, I find it very easy to stay relaxed and happy (therefore I do more yoga); my mind becomes calm, clear and relaxed and I am able to see what is going on with clarity and detachment.

Subtle movement from tension to relaxation

In relaxation, subtly all the biological systems in the body are returning to balance. The muscles soften; the racing heart slows down; and the digestive system starts working again. The body is repairing and balancing itself. Subtly this instinctively feels good, which is why we do love it.

The tension-relaxation cycle has several different settings/levels: from maximum to minimum as: panic, stress, balance, relaxation, sleep'. We can even get benefit from relaxation moving from even panic state down to a stress state.

Negative impact of chronic tension:

When we feel anxious or stressed, our breathing rate increases, as does our blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, sweating, state of mental arousal and adrenaline flow. Relaxation helps to decrease all those things. Inability to access and mobilize internal coping resources in troubled situations causes chronic tension. To that end, if we can not relax at all, we would eventually burn out (tension is a high energy state) and be die prematurely

Stress and tension affects and pushes the body, for example: high blood pressure manifest heart disease, kidney and respiratory failure; a high metabolic rate leads to fatigue and cell damage; muscle tension leads to physical pain and injury; and digestive system disruptions leads to gastrointestinal problems (Harrison, 2002).

Positive impact of relaxation :

Reduces tiredness – if you can manage everyday life without excessive tension

Improves performance – your performance in work, sport or music can be raised through self awareness and control of tension.

Reduces pain – pain occurs as a result of tension e.g. headaches and backache. Relaxation can help you to cope by raising your pain threshold and reducing the amount of pain

Coping with stress – relaxation helps you to reduce the effects of stress and to breathe effectively

Improves sleep – by allowing you to be calm and peaceful.

Improves self-confidence – by increasing your self-awareness and ability to cope with daily life

Improves personal relationships – it is easier to relate well to other people wen you are relaxed and self-confident

Differentiate between relaxation and meditation :

Summary similarities between relaxation and meditation

Both about relaxing the body and clearing the mind

Purify the deepest levels of the mind

expand the conscious state

many of the health benefits obtained through relaxation also achieve through relaxation: decreased blood pressure, reduced stress, treatment of insomnia, and so on Summary differences between relaxation and meditation

Relax mind vs.  Strengthen/ focus mind, dynamic component of awakening

Letting go vs.  Self discipline/ practice/ effort

Normally lay comfortable  vs.  Normally Sitting Position can be uncomfortable

Mind moves a place relaxing  vs.  Alpha/ theta states

Emphasis releasing stress  vs.  Emphasis focusing mind

Learn to withdraw from world vs.  Learn opening up

You leave the Waking state of consciousness towards unconsciousness vs. remain in the Waking state of consciousness

Relaxation techniques are designed as treatments for particular disorders vs.  Meditation is a means toward achieving personal growth and finding a system of values and philosophy of life.