The Relaxation Response

“Herbert Benson, M.D., first coined the term relaxation response in the 1970’s to describe the profound physical and mental responses that occur when we consciously relax.  Benson was among the first scientists to document yoga’s ability to significantly reduce stress, improve health, and benefit the heart” ~ Suza  Francina, The New Yoga For Healthy Aging

Amazingly, the relaxation response comes naturally to the body (as seen in deep, dreamless sleep and deep meditation) and that is a powerful antidote to stress.

When practiced regularly, this leads to a reduction in your everyday stress levels and an increase in your feelings of joy and serenity. And, the modern yogi(ni) can learn how to stay calm and collected in the face of life’s curveballs.

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!!!

What the Relaxation Response IS:

a conscious mentally active process that leaves the body relaxed
best done in the awake state
trainable
improves with practice

What the Relaxation Response IS NOT:

laying on the couch watching television
sleeping
laziness

We know that the stress response floods the body with chemicals that prepare it for fight or flight. This is helpful for emergency situations where we must be alert, but it wears the body down when constantly activated.

We can’t avoid all stress, but we can counteract its negative effects by learning how to evoke the relaxation response, a state of deep rest that is the polar opposite of the stress response.

Benefits of Relaxation:

– deepening your breathing,
– reducing stress hormones,
– slowing down heart rate and blood pressure,
– relaxing your muscles
– increases energy and focus,
– combats illness,
– relieves aches and pains,
– heightens problem-solving abilities,
– boosts motivation and productivity
– increases happiness, by releasing dopamine, seratonin, oxytocin and other immunomodulators to change brain chemistry

Starting a Relaxation Practice:

All you need is the desire or motivation! Even the most stressed out individual can learn how!  Rana Waxman can help you determine which techniques are best suited to you, and her Therapeutic Yoga Program is designed to help you learn a sustainable relaxation practice. Learn to move from GO GO GO to LETTING GO – it is vital to a healthy lifestyle.