What is relaxation?

Relaxation is the absence of tension. It is not an activity, like any other hobby. Nor is it achieved by an activity. It is not even the same thing as recreation. While most forms of recreation like tennis, squash, golf, gardening, watching t.v. etc. may be enjoyable and beneficial, they do not produce an absence of tension in you. They just change your tensions. Relaxation does not mean merely slowing down. When tense people learn to relax they become more perceptive, more aware, more successful.

The opposite of relaxation is tension.

Being relaxed is the only creative way to live. The opposite of this is destructive. With tension we self destruct.

Is relaxation important?

The answer is YES. Unrelieved tension and stress can have serious consequences. Pressure and tension usually start working internally causing anxiety, frustration, headaches and other mental and physical ailments.

When we are un-relaxed or quality of life suffers. We feel tense, edgy, irritable and anxious. We tend to explode easily. If the possibility of externalising anger does not exist, we internalise these negative emotions. As a result we often feel a lack of joy in our lives. Nothing seems to sustain a ‘buzz’ for us for any length of time. Our relationships with other people suffer. We make poor work mates and poor play mates. All this escalates, and accompanied by worry, anxiety, sorrow, fear and depression, we believe that life was not meant to be easy. A life of quiet desperationdepletes our vitality and robs us of the joyful energy with which to experience the day. Our memory suffers, as we become easily forgetful and concentration is poor. But it is not only during the day that the restless mind and turbulent thoughts haunt us. Poor sleeping patterns which include the inability to fall asleep easily, or lying awake for a long time after awaking at night, further depletes our natural healthy resources. We become prime targets for other symptoms of stress e.g. migraines, shortness of breath, racing pulse, sexual difficulties, tension in back, neck and shoulders, bowel upsets, eye-strain, a not-so funny feeling in the head and chest pains. One or all!