Relaxation
Relaxation means relieving all the stress
from the muscles and allowing the mind to focus, leading
to a healthier body and mind.
Broadly defined, relaxation is 'the
elimination of tension throughout the body, and a calm
and peaceful state of mind'.
How this is achieved is different for each one of us. We
can all identify that heavy, sleepy, slow feeling that accompanies
waking. Not all relaxation is like this, however. For some
people, a walk in beautiful countryside, sitting absorbed
in reading or music, enjoying a warm bath, gardening.
Relaxation is a special state in which the mind and body
integrate, energy flows freely and our instinctive ability
to heal is activated. After only a relatively short time
spent in deep relaxation, feelings of rejuvenation are quite
common. Stress is reduced and our ability to think increased
as the
chemical balance in both brain and body are restored. We
feel more able to focus and our perceptions are re-balanced;
what seemed like an enormous or insurmountable problem, becomes
a manageable challenge.
Deep relaxation with hypnosis, or meditation,
has been credited as the cause of spontaneous remission of
cancer and
recovery
from
medically
untreatable conditions. Meditation and guided hypnosis have
one common feature - the constant 'chatter' of
worries and thoughts are temporarily suspended. Whilst in
this state, the unconscious part of our mind that activates
our innate healing processes functions without restraint.
For more detailed explanations of how this works and how
to achieve it see Jon Kabat-Zinn's excellent book 'FULL
CATASTROPHE LIVING: Using the Wisdom of Your Mind and
Body to Face Stress, Pain & Illness'
"Kabat-Zinn focuses on "mindfulness," a concept
that involves living in the moment, paying attention, and
simply "being" rather than "doing." While
you can practice anything "mindfully," from taking
a walk to cleaning your house, Kabat-Zinn presents several
meditation techniques that focus the attention most clearly,
whether it's on a simple phrase, your breathing, or various
parts of your body.
The book goes into detail about how hospital patients
have either improved their health or simply come to feel
better
despite their illness by using these techniques, but these
meditations can help anyone deal with stress and gain a calmer
outlook on life. "When we use the word healing to describe
the experiences of people in the stress clinic, what we mean
above all is that they are undergoing a profound transformation
of view," Kabat-Zinn writes. "Out of this shift
in perspective comes an ability to act with greater balance
and inner security in the world."
Download a hypnosis session
You can purchase and download one
of these relaxation hypnosis sessions using the links on
the left. These can be played at home at a time when you
can
relax.
Many people use these in conjunction with personal therapy sessions,
and if you would like to speak to either of us to explore
this treatment option, please
see the contact details where you can either email us or telephone us. |
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