Learning how to relax can greatly improve your health and well-being. That’s why it’s so important to find ways to introduce more relaxation into your everyday life. If you don’t learn to manage your stress, stress will manage you, and left unchecked, stress can be draining, exhausting, cause anxiety, and may even create health issues.

All of us look for ways to counter stress on a regular basis, sometimes without even being aware of it. Some of us go to the gym to work off stress. Others go to the pub and try to drink stress away. There are the couch potatoes that zone out in front of the TV to eliminate stress, and then there are those who use smoking or drugs as the answer. But drinking, smoking, or drugs are toxic and can be damaging to your body and mind.

The key to finding true relaxation is balance. If you are use to a hectic lifestyle, you may feel that relaxing might make you lose your edge. You may also be addicted to the effects of
adrenaline, and find it problematic to relax. But remember your body can’t remain on high alert all the time. It will eventually lead to burn out, and possibly physical ailments.

So, the best time to discover how to bring more peace and relaxation into your life is before the lack of it becomes a problem. Practice ways to relax anytime you get a chance, or whenever you feel the need to release stress.

Here are some effective relaxation positions. You have probably seen some of them before. Some are variations used in yoga exercises, and are very helpful in reducing feelings of stress and anxiety.

1. Legs Across a Chair
Begin by getting a chair. Now lay on your back on the floor, and place your legs on the seat in a sideways position. Make sure the chair is right up against the bend in your knees. This is good for the lower back. It also allows your whole body to let go of tensions and your muscles to begin to relax. Slow down your breathing too. If you really want to go deep into this relaxation position, try covering your eyes with a moist warm towel or cucumbers slices.

2. Bottom Against a Wall
Next, put the chair aside and move your buttocks up to the base of a wall and extend your legs straight up the wall. Make sure your bottom is as close to the base of the wall as possible, and that the small of your back is flat against the floor. You can place your arms straight out on either side, or just keep them by your sides. Again, keep your breathing slow, or do some breathing exercises. The point is to do whatever feels most relaxing to you. There is no right or wrong way.

3. Knees Against Your Chest
Now bring your knees down close to your chest. Hold your legs to your chest with your hands if you can. That really helps stretch the lower back. If it feels more relaxing to you, just keep your
knees in a bent position as close to your chest as possible. Close your eyes, and breathe in through your nose and breathe out through your mouth. Do whatever makes you feel more relaxed.

4. Blanket Under Shoulder Blades
Now here’s the last one. Slowly move away from the wall. Don’t jump up quickly, that is counterproductive to everything you just did. Instead, roll over on your side, and use your arms to push yourself up into a sitting position. Now take a blanket, towel or cloth and roll it into the shape of a log. Place it on the floor and lay back on the cloth so that it’s horizontally straight across your shoulder blades. You can increase the range of this position by stretching your arms out on either side, tucking the small of your back against the floor, pulling your knees up in a bent position and placing your feet flat on the floor. Most often, stress and tension gets stuck in your neck, shoulders and lower back. This relaxation position really helps to release those stress knots that can form in those areas.

There you have it. Simple, easy positions to help release stress. Remember, when you’re done, don’t get up quickly. Roll over on your side, and use your hands and arms to push yourself up into
a sitting position, and then continue to get up slowly. Do any or all of the positions whenever you get a chance, and share them with a friend. To your health!

Relaxation techniques are quite numerous. Some might work and some just won’t. Moreover, some techniques are hard to follow, although they could be efficient. Outlined below are the best 5 relaxation techniques which can be easily performed.

1- Breathing exercises:
Controlled breathing is by far one of the easiest relaxation techniques that can help you calm down quickly. Concentrating on breathing helps you to forget about strenuous thoughts and worries. To start breathing to relax, you must sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and focus on your nose as you breathe in and out. Breathe in slowly and deeply while trying to sense the air as it enters through your nostrils. Now, hold your breath for a few seconds while still focusing on your nostrils. Next, exhale slowly and as deeply as you can and try to sense the warmth of the air on its way out of your body. This routine should be performed for 10-15 minutes to relax effectively.

2- Progressive muscular relaxation techniques:
The idea of progressive muscular relaxation techniques arise from the fact that stress and anxiety are accompanied by muscular tension. Accordingly, relaxing the tension of the muscles helps alleviating the psychological effects of stress. The progressive muscular relaxation techniques depend on focusing on individual groups of muscles while performing certain movements that would help dissolve their tension.

3- Guided meditation:
Psychologists and hypnosis specialists stress on the great beneficial effects of meditation relaxation techniques. Although guided meditation is sometimes hard to accomplish, following the right routines and practice guidelines can help anyone meditate effectively. You must lie down, or sit comfortably; whatever is convenient to you. Visualize yourself in a quiet relaxing place you choose for example, in the woods, on the shore, sailing on a boat or even your imaginary sanctuary that might not exist. Now, try to sense everything around you in this perfect place; behold the beauty of its views, smell its pleasant scents and listen carefully to it soothing sounds. The more realistic your meditation is, the more relaxed you would feel when you come back to reality.

4- Yoga:
Yoga is one of the most effective relaxation techniques that have been known to man for thousands of years. Yoga combines multiple relaxation routines that can have beneficial effects on almost every part of your body. Yoga relies on breathing exercises and a serious of movement patterns that target relaxing the muscle fibers all over the body. Moreover, meditation is an essential part of Yoga and has proven efficiency in relieving anxiety and strenuous emotions.

5- Aromatherapy:
Aromatherapy is a relaxation technique that involves the use of scents and fragrances to alter the mental state of an individual. Numerous extracts of herbs, plants and woods have relaxing effects on the physical and psychological functions of the body. Scents of chamomile, lavender and geranium have well known relaxing effects. Many shops specialize in selling aromatherapy products. Most of these products are oils that you should have to heat up to smell their scents.