Progressive Muscle Relaxation

When you are feeling stressed out or anxious, your body will feel muscular tension.

You will then feel all those aches and pains that go with being stressed or under pressure. The best way to relieve you of all those muscular tension is through exercise.

relieve stress - Progressive Muscle Relaxation

An effective form of exercise to relieve stress is the Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR). This technique was developed by Edmund Jacobson in the early 1920’s. According to Jacobson, muscular tension accompanies anxiety. This means that in order to relieve anxiety, one has to relax the muscular tension.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)

You can begin the Progressive Muscle Relaxation by sitting down or lying down and making yourself comfortable. Start by tensing all the muscles of your face. Inhale while holding this for the count of eight.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation - cope stress

Then, exhale and be completely relaxed. Let the tension from your facial muscles seep. Next, do the same steps on your neck and shoulders. Continue and repeat the procedure down your body.

Cope with stress:Progressive Muscle Relaxation

For a shortened version, you can repeat the procedure just on the four main muscle groups. These include the face; neck, shoulders and arms; abdomen and chest; buttocks, legs and feet. The whole PMR session will approximately take you 30 minutes finish.