Live Whole Health #182: Relaxation and learning to let go

Imagine it’s the middle of the day and you’re traveling outside, whether driving, walking, riding a bike, or taking the bus. If you don’t wear sunglasses, you’re likely squinting for most of the trip.

In fact, try squinting right now. Scrunch up your face like you’re protecting your eyes from the midday sun. How long before your face becomes tired from this effort? How long until you start to feel a headache coming on? Five minutes? Ten?

There’s a good chance you do some form of squinting every day. Maybe you carry tension in your shoulders and they’re always a bit sore, or you clench your teeth and find your jaw becoming tired. You may not even realize your muscles are tight until you purposefully decide to release them, much like putting on a pair of sunglasses brings relief to your entire face. The relief feels even better when you realize you can always ease the tension just by noticing it and focusing on relaxation.

In this 9-minute video, Lamanda Blackman from the Central Arkansas VA Medical Center guides you in tightening parts of your body so you can experience focused relaxation. If part of your body feels particularly good when released, that’s probably where you usually carry your tension. Practicing tightening and releasing these areas will make it easier to let go of your stress and focus your energy where you want it to be.

Interested in further exploring how simple, focused relaxation exercises like this can reduce stress, encourage healthy muscles and even help you get a good night’s rest? Check out this Progressive Muscle Relaxation handout or this Progressive Relaxation exercise.