Most of us know we need to relax to counteract the effects of stress. But, are you engaging in true relaxation or just relaxing? Relaxing is something you do, usually an enjoyable activity. Relaxation is something you feel. Both are important parts of an effective stress management plan, but learning how to engage your body’s relaxation response to “turn off” the stress response gives you a real chance to recharge. There are a variety of simple strategies for relaxation:

• Deep Breathing: Also called belly breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, and abdominal breathing. This technique involves practicing deep, slow, even breaths with focused breath awareness.
• Mindfulness: Being fully present and intentionally aware in the present moment, using your five senses and observing your thoughts and emotions to tune in to your experience.
• Autogenic Training: Repetition of a series of self-statements about heaviness and warmth in different parts of the body, creating a positive effect on the autonomic nervous system.
• Visualization/Guided Imagery: Focusing the imagination in proactive, positive ways by creating detailed mental images that engage all your senses, such as a peaceful setting or even optimal performance of a new task.
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation: The act of tensing and relaxing major muscles from head to feet, enabling yourself to relax them more thoroughly after you release, letting go of physical tension more effectively.
• Chair Yoga/At-Work Stretches: Yoga promotes mindfulness and mind/body/breath connection. Chair yoga is a gentle form of yoga practiced sitting in or standing near a chair for support. It's something that can be done easily and briefly anywhere you sit.

Another big difference between relaxation and relaxing is that relaxation takes practice. It doesn’t always come easy at first, but we all have the ability to improve this skill. If you'd like to practice some of the exercises above, visit the OSU EAP website for guided recordings and join us on Wednesday’s at 12 p.m. from July 11 through Aug. 1, for a four-week Group Health Coaching series, Relax to Recharge, with Health Coach Amanda. This series involves a brief background on the foundational relaxation techniques with a major emphasis on practicing and building your experience with these skills. Register for this series at www.linktohealth.osu.edu.

For a new and different relaxation practice, consider trying the OSU SMART Lab. Health Coach Amanda will facilitate another Group Health Coaching series, Build Resilience with the SMART Lab, Mondays at 11 a.m. or 12 p.m. from July 8 - 29. This series is great for new users as well as regular visitors to the lab, and will introduce participants to breathing techniques, resiliency skills and the innovative HeartMath biofeedback technology. Participants will familiarize with the SMART Lab technology and practice with the fun, user-friendly computer exercises each session. They'll also learn how heart-rate variance, deep breathing and positive emotion can help reduce stress, and discuss simple ways to build resilience in everyday life. Register for this series at www.linktohealth.osu.edu.