The easiest, most reliable way to relax. (article)

relax the easy way

THIS IS AN EASY, pleasant way to ease tension and relax. Lie down, turn on a relaxation program, and close your eyes. A relaxation program is a recording of someone guiding you through a pleasant experience that relaxes you. I recommend the following programs:

Audiotape: Letting Go Of Stress
by Jerrold Greenberg

The Silva Method: Unlocking the Genius Within
by Robert Stone

Total Relaxation: Release Stress and Tension
by Kelly Howell

Progressive Relaxation and Breathing
by Matthew McKay and Patrick Fanning

Deep Relaxation (Abundant Well Being Series)
by Nischala Devi

PROGRAMS LIKE THESE are not only relaxing, they have a measurable, physical effect on the body. In a study of a hundred and thirty patients about to undergo abdominal surgery, half of them listened to relaxation programs for three days before the surgery and for six days after the surgery. The other half (the control group) did not listen to relaxation programs. All other treatment was the same for both groups. All of them were tested in various ways as the surgery process unfolded.

Patients who listened to the programs measured less anxiety before the surgery and far less pain afterward. The reduction in pain was such that they required only half as much pain medication as the people in the control group.

Listening to relaxation programs can not only lower anxiety but it can reduce pain. And it is pleasant to do. What a great tool! Try out a few different programs and when you find one you like, you have a simple, easy way to reliably induce a state of muscular relaxation.

Listen to a relaxation audio program.

Author: Adam Khan
author of the books, Principles For Personal Growth and Self-Help Stuff That Works
and creator of the blogs, CrushPessimism.com, and MoodRaiser.com

YouMe Works is a self-help website, giving you tools and ideas to help you feel good more often and become more effective with your actions. Below are a few links to other areas of the site.

Articles and Interviews
Learn about sustaining motivation, improving relationships, relieving depression, improving your health, reducing anxiety, becoming more optimistic, enjoying a better mood more often, earning more money, expanding your creativity, making better decisions, resolving conflicts, and much more.

Self-Help Menu
Want to learn to enjoy your relationships with people more? Do better at work? Feel good more often? Have a better attitude? Use the self-help menu.

Facebook and Twitter
We post on Facebook and Twitter a few times a week, focusing on helping you feel good more often.

Search For Anything On YMW
Type in any topic and find all the material on YouMe Works on that topic. You can also browse topics on this page.

Subscribe to Moodraiser
Get articles delivered to your email inbox free. Learn simple methods for lifting your general feeling of well-being right away, and improving your mood over time.