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Progressive Muscle Relaxation

A mindfulness technique to reduce bodily tension.

Progressive muscle relaxation is a great way to release tension in the body and to also train yourself to observe when the body is tense and when it's relaxed. It's a bit counterintuitive. We would think, oh, if I'm relaxing my body, I would just want to move straight to relaxation. But in progressive muscle relaxation, we actually tense those areas of the body first and then relax. So try it out, starting with your hands.

Bunch them into a fist. Squeeze for 3, 2, 1. And then release. Haah. So you start to see that contrast between tension and ease.

Let's try it now with the shoulders. Bunching them up and squeezing as hard as you can for 3, 2, 1, and then release. Haah. So now you see that contrast as well. Tension, release.

Let's do it with a full body to close. Squeezing everything, 3, 2, 1. And then release. You can do this with one particular body part that's holding tension or each body part from head to toe or the entire body as a whole. Have some fun trying it out.

Take care.

Mindful Tip

4.5

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

A mindfulness technique to reduce bodily tension.

Duration

Your default time is based on your progress and is changed automatically as you practice.

Progressive muscle relaxation is a great way to release tension in the body and to also train yourself to observe when the body is tense and when it's relaxed. It's a bit counterintuitive. We would think, oh, if I'm relaxing my body, I would just want to move straight to relaxation. But in progressive muscle relaxation, we actually tense those areas of the body first and then relax. So try it out, starting with your hands.

Bunch them into a fist. Squeeze for 3, 2, 1. And then release. Haah. So you start to see that contrast between tension and ease.

Let's try it now with the shoulders. Bunching them up and squeezing as hard as you can for 3, 2, 1, and then release. Haah. So now you see that contrast as well. Tension, release.

Let's do it with a full body to close. Squeezing everything, 3, 2, 1. And then release. You can do this with one particular body part that's holding tension or each body part from head to toe or the entire body as a whole. Have some fun trying it out.

Take care.

Mindful Tip

4.5

Duration

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Tips for Self Care null Playlist · 7 tracks

Tips for Self Care

Playlist · 7 tracks4.9

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