Stress management: Relaxing your mind and body

What does it mean to relax the mind and body?

Many methods of relaxation work on both the mind and the body at the same time. Other ways to relax focus on just one or the other.

• Relaxing the mind means to quiet your thoughts so that you feel calm and peaceful. This can help you feel better and think more clearly than when you are stressed or anxious.
• Relaxing the body depends on where you are holding your tension. When people are stressed, their muscles often become tight. Learning how to relax your muscles, such as through progressive muscle relaxation, is one way to relax your body. Breathing deeply is another way.

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Author:	Merrill Hayden	Last Updated: May 21, 2008
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry
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