Progressive Muscle relaxation, often known as PMR, is a kind of treatment that entails tensing and relaxing your individual muscle groups one at a time in accordance with a predetermined sequence. The purpose of this exercise is to assist you in becoming more aware of the sensation of muscular tightness while simultaneously releasing tension from your muscles. This method, if used on a consistent basis, has the potential to assist you in mitigating the physiological impacts of stress.

What’s great with PMR is that it actually offers a structure for reaching this level of relaxation, making it possible to do so. You will only be able to focus on one muscle group at a time while doing this exercise. This enables you to become more aware of the stress in that particular place. Continue reading down below.

What are the Benefits of Practicing Progressive Muscle Relaxation?

One of the primary advantages of PMR is the reduction of anxious feelings. This covers anxiety caused by a condition known as generalized anxiety disorder as well as anxiety that is brought on by a stressful scenario. When it came to assisting in the reduction of emotions of stress, anxiety, and anger, a comprehensive study that was carried out in 2016 came to the conclusion that PMR was just as beneficial as acupuncture therapy. Because PMR makes you feel more relaxed, it has the potential to improve the quality of your sleep, which is a very important benefit.

Moreover, according to the findings of a study published back in 2018, PMR over a period of eight weeks may help reduce persistent low back pain. The most severe of all possible outcomes may be brought on by low back pain, which is a very frequent ailment. There might be a number of reasons behind it, but one of the contributing factors is stress.

Last but not least, one more study from 2016 found that PMR can reduce the number of times people have migraine headaches. Researchers think that it helps by restoring a healthy balance to the concentrations of serotonin, a chemical found in neurons that is frequently deficient in persons who suffer from migraines.

How Should You Perform Progressive Muscle Relaxation?

The at-home practice of progressive Muscle Relaxation is a method that requires little effort. There is no requirement for any particular gadgets or equipment. You only need to concentrate, pay attention, and choose a calm location where you won’t be disturbed by anything else. This is the most effective way to carry it out:

1. First, choose a seated or lying position. You should try to relax your whole body. Please take five long, slow, and deep breaths.

2. Raise your toes up toward the ceiling. Keep your grip, and then let go. Draw your toes down toward your feet. Keep your grip, and then let go.

3. After that, contract your calf muscles and then release that tension.

4. Bring both of your knees in closer to one another. Keep your grip, and then let go.

5. Contract the muscles in your thighs. Keep your grip, and then let go.

6. Pull your hands to your chest. Take a moment, and then let go.

7. Raise your arms to the sky. Keep your grip, and then let go.

8. Put some pressure on your buttocks. Take a moment, and then let go.

9. Pull in your stomach and tighten your abdominal muscles. Take a moment, and then let go.

10. Take a deep breath in and contract your chest. Hold, then let out a breath and release your grip.

11. Raise your shoulders so that they are level with your ears. Take a moment, and then let go.

12. Put your lips together and look at me. First, take hold, then let go.

13. Make a big open space in your mouth. Keep your grip, and then let go.

14. Put your eyes in a tightly closed position. After a little pause, let go.

15. Raise both eyebrows to the sky. First, take hold, then let go.

This method of relaxing can also be taught to you by a trained specialist in the field of mental health, such as a counselor or therapist.

The post 15 Progressive Relaxation Techniques to Reduce Stress and Feel Really Good appeared first on Health Thoroughfare.