Relaxation Techniques Video

Feeling stressed? A little pressure can boost performance, but too much can lead to burnout.

And when your attention is compromised, mistakes are made.

Instead of getting tied up in knots, let's try some handy relaxation techniques to tackle stress.

In stressful situations, your breathing may become short and your heart starts to race. This is your body's "fight-or-flight" response.

To counter this, use Progressive Muscular Relaxation. Starting at the top of your head and moving down your body, tense each muscle group for five seconds. Then, breathe out slowly as you release your muscles and relax.

Did you know that shallow breathing could be stressing you out?

So, take a deep breath in through your nose, feel your lower belly expand as your diaphragm moves, then breathe out slowly through your mouth.

Even the smallest inconvenience can set your stress level rising.

Use the Centering technique   to rebalance and focus.

Imagine all that negative energy is gathering at your center, just below your waist. Now picture yourself thrusting it away from you, and focus on the calm and quiet that's left behind.

Relaxation takes time and practice. Be patient and try different combinations of these techniques to find what works best for you.

For more tips, see our Physical Relaxation Techniques article   .