I have been working with a group focusing on self care and one of the exercises last week was to set a goal to reward yourself for no reason. I thought about several possibilities. I discarded my first choice, buying flowers because I just adopted an affectionate playful 6 yr old tabby cat Eli, who apparently drinks the water from vases and accidentally knocks them over. One of my favorite authors just published a new book, but I realized I would really benefit from listening to a progressive relaxation tape since I have noticed a lot of tension in my body lately that doesn't release as easily and effortlessly as it used to when I was in the habit of regular conscious relaxation.
So I went into my archives and decided I would reward myself with a long guided visualization I recorded a couple of years ago. I plan to listen to it daily for a week then move on to the shorter version. I actually hope it's like any physical exercise..... My body's cell memory and neural pathways will reengage quickly and I will ooooozzzze relaxation.
I decided I would share it as this weeks blog so you can release anxiety and stress and achieve total body relaxation. As I guide you into a blissful state where you can connect with your divine self, you will be so relaxed you will want to bask in the glorious delight of not even wanting to move.
This total relaxation is based on what I taught in prenatal classes with some additions of neurobiology I learned along the way and from my friend and colleague, clinical hypnotist, Joy Borthwick.
This is the first of three recordings. This one is very detailed, relaxing your body in tiny sections. During the second you will relax your body in larger sections and in the last you will learn to achieve total body relaxation in 1 to 3 breaths
Helpful Hints
Find a comfortable place to lay down and cover yourself with a blanket, as you will become cool as you relax.
You may want to listen with earphones to achieve a comfortable sound level
I found taking in a deep breath, holding it for 10 seconds and releasing it quickly on the areas that were extra tense helped intensify the relaxation.
Practice this daily for the coming week. On day 5 -7 when I instruct you to tense and area, merely think of the area as you breathe in and relax it as you breathe out. If you are unable to achieve as deep a relaxation go back to tensing as you breathe in and relaxing as you breathe out.
image by Ersler Dmitry purchased from 123rf