Muscle Relaxation Exercise to Combat Stress & Anxiety

Hello friend

A progressive muscle relaxation exercise is used to help a person manage their stress. It is also a great exercise when you are experiencing anxiety and are needing some relief.

The body responds to stress and anxiety with muscle tension. This muscle tension causes us pain and discomfort. Today I want to share with you one stress management technique that will help you to relax. Progressive muscle relaxation reduces our muscle tension and also helps with general mental anxiety.

Instructions for Relaxation Exercise

It is important that you get yourself in a comfortable position. For this exercise you can lie down – loosen any tight clothing and put a pillow under your head or knees. Alternatively you can sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor, legs uncrossed and hands resting comfortably at your side or on your lap.

Ensure that you won’t be disturbed and turn off your phone.

Take a deep breath and tense each muscle group (hard but not to the point of cramping) for 5 to 10 seconds, then exhale suddenly and completely relax the muscle group (do not relax it gradually). Give yourself 10 to 20 seconds to relax before moving to the next muscle group.

Breathe

Before you begin, take a deep breath through the nose – filling lungs completely and holding for a moment. Release through your mouth until you are out of breath. Do this three times.

Hands

Clench them – 5-10 seconds – relax. Do this twice.

Wrists and Forearms

Extend them and bend your hands back at the wrist – hold 5 – 10 seconds – relax.

Biceps and Upper Arms

Clench your hands into fists, bend your arms at the elbows, and flex your biceps. Hold 5-10 seconds and then relax. Do this twice.

Extend your arms up towards the ceiling – push as if there were an imaginary wall there. — hold 5-10 seconds and relax. Do this twice.

Shoulders

Shrug them up towards your ears. Hold 5 – 10 seconds and relax. Do this three times.

Forehead

Wrinkle it into a deep frown. Hold 5 – 10 seconds and then relax.

Around the Eyes and Bridge of the Nose

Close your eyes as tightly as possible. Hold 5 – 10 seconds and then relax. (Make sure you remove contact lenses before beginning the exercise)

Raise your eyebrows as high as you can – hold 5 – 10 seconds and then relax. Do this 3 times.

Cheeks and Jaw

Smile as widely as you can – hold 5 – 10 seconds and then relax. Do this twice.

Around the Mouth

Press your lips together tightly – hold 5 – 10 seconds and then relax. (Check your facial area for tension).

Back of the Neck

Gently stretch your head back – hold 5 – 10 seconds and then relax. Do this twice.

Front of the Neck

Touch your chin to your chest – hold 5 – 10 seconds and then relax. Do this twice. (Check your neck and head for tension).

Chest

Take a deep breath through your nose and hold it for 3 seconds, then exhale through your mouth. Do this twice.

Back

Arch your back backwards – hold 5 – 10 seconds and then relax. Do this twice.

Stomach

Suck it into a tight knot – hold 5 – 10 seconds and then relax. Do this twice. (Check your chest and stomach for tension).

Hips and Buttocks

Press the buttocks together tightly – hold 5 – 10 seconds and then relax. Do this twice.

Thighs

Clench them together as tight as you can – hold 5 – 10 seconds and then relax. Do this twice.

Lower Legs

Raise each foot and point and curl it down – hold 5 – 10 seconds and then relax. Do this twice.

Tense your right calf for 5 – 10 seconds and then relax. Tense your left calf for 5 – 10 seconds and then relax. Do this twice.

Feet

Squeeze (tighten) your right foot for 5 – 10 seconds and then relax. Squeeze (tighten) your left foot for 5 – 10 seconds and then relax. Do this twice.