Quick muscle relaxation

A quick muscle relaxation exercise will teach you to recognise and reduce muscle tension. You can relieve tension in any part of your body just by tensing and relaxing each muscle in turn.

How to do the exercise

Sitting in a comfortable chair:

1. Close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing.
2. Slowly breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.
3. Make a fist, squeezing your hand tightly.
4. Hold this for a few seconds, noticing the tension.
5. Slowly open your fingers and feel the difference – notice the tension leaving.

Take some time to enjoy this feeling.

Quick muscle relaxation tips

If you have any physical injuries or conditions that may cause muscle pain, don’t tense the muscle in that area.