Yet, stretching is also a helpful tool in Stress Reduction
because it helps us to become familiar with the difference between tension and
relaxation. The reason this is so
important in Stress Management is because we can sometimes reach the point of
carrying chronic stress in the body, and when that happens, we lose touch with
what it feels like to release tension and regain relaxation. The result is that when we attempt to relax, we might
feel too guarded to “just let go”, and releasing tension in the muscles becomes complex or nearly impossible. This guarded stance can lead to insomnia and
muscle pain.
In a well-known relaxation technique called Progressive
Muscle Relaxation, individuals are trained to tighten, tense and flex various
areas of the body. They then learn to
hold that tension for just a moment before letting it go in a release that
relaxes the muscle and tendons completely.
For instance, tightening the fists as tight as you can, holding it, and
then letting it go by relaxing the fists and letting them become limp and
loose. The strategy is not just for the
purpose of stress reduction, but to train individuals to notice the difference between tension, and relaxation.
Very simple stretching exercises can be used for the same
reason. Reaching down to touch the toes,
and then slowly coming back up. Reaching
up to the sky, and then lowering the arms and hands and shaking them out as if
they were wet rags. Wrinkling up the face
and then releasing it into a smooth smile.
All of these methods use the same concept that Progressive Muscle
Relaxation does, in that intentional tightening is followed by gentle
releasing, and an awareness of the difference between the two takes place so as
to train oneself how to first notice tension, and then how to release it at any
given time.
Thanks to Tambako the Jaguar for the great photo Stretching lioness
