Why is relaxation progressive

Front of the neck: Touch your chin to your chest. Check your neck and head for tension. Chest: Take a deep breath and hold it, then exhale. Back: Arch your back up and away from the floor. Stomach: Suck it into a tight knot. Check your chest and stomach for tension. Hips and buttocks: Press the buttocks together tightly.

Thighs: Clench them hard. Lower legs: Point your toes toward your face, as if trying to bring the toes up to touch your head. Then point your toes away and curl them downward at the same time. Check the area from your waist down for tension. Health Tools Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.

Voice Recording. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Jacobson E. Progressive relaxation 2nd ed.

Related Articles. Want to Feel More Relaxed? Try These Deep Breathing Techniques. What Is Breathing? The 11 Best Massagers of How to Practice Autogenic Training for Relaxation. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions. Skip to navigation Skip to main content Site map Accessibility Contact us.

Search this site Search all sites Search. Go to whole of WA Government Search. Open search bar Open navigation Submit search. Healthy living. Facebook Youtube Twitter. Home Healthy living Progressive muscle relaxation. Think about how you respond to anxiety. Muscle tension Muscle tension is commonly associated with stress, anxiety and fear as part of a process that helps our bodies prepare for potentially dangerous situations.

Muscle tension can also be associated with backaches and tension headaches. Progressive muscle relaxation One method of reducing muscle tension that people have found helpful is through a technique called progressive muscle relaxation PMR. Preparing for relaxation When you are beginning to practice PMR exercises keep in mind the following: Physical injuries If you have any injuries, or a history of physical problems that may cause muscle pain, always consult your doctor before you start.

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This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Healthy Lifestyle Stress management. Products and services. Relaxation techniques: Try these steps to reduce stress Relaxation techniques can reduce stress symptoms and help you enjoy a better quality of life, especially if you have an illness.

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Show references Complementary, alternative, or integrative health: What's in a name? National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Accessed Jan. Relaxation techniques for health. Pizzorno JE, et al.