Relieving Muscle Tension

There are a number of methods you can use to relieve tension in the muscles.  While stress is unavoidable in today's fast-paced world, it is possible to reduce its damaging effects on the body.  Here are five good ways to relax and relieve tension.

Deep breathing

This is the easiest way to relieve tension and can be done anywhere, even in a business meeting or while riding a crowded bus.  Breathing deeply helps the body by boosting circulation and increasing the available oxygen in the blood.  This helps relax the muscles and the increased bloodflow to the brain improves your cognitive function.  You can usually think through your problems more clearly and create solutions to dealing with the stressor.

Exercise

Physical activity is the body's preferred tension reliever.  Several studies have shown that people who exercise regularly are able to handle stress and anxiety better than those with sedentary lifestyles.  Exercising releases a number of beneficial chemicals into the brain, along with the endorphins that give the famous "runner's high" feeling.  The activity you choose can also serve as a distraction from your stress or a way to express frustration or anger with the situation.

Meditation

Similar to deep breathing, meditation slows your body and brain down while boosting bloodflow.  While meditating, the brain functions similar to the way it does during sleep.  This peaceful state of being awake and almost asleep causes the body to release certain hormones that aid in growth and healing.  The mental benefits of meditation can greatly reduce your stress by giving your mind a break from the constant swirl of thoughts that normally cause anxiety.

Music

Almost everyone enjoys listening to music, but it can actually have tangible benefits in relieving tension and reducing stress.  Medical studies using music therapy have been conducted on patients suffering from a variety of medical problems, some as severe as cancer.  Health benefits have been found across the board, with most patients reporting lower stress levels and showing measurably lower blood pressure and heart rates.

Yoga

When most people think about relaxation techniques and ways to relieve tension, yoga is usually one of the first things to come to mind.  There is a good reason for this as yoga is one of the oldest methods, possibly being used over 5000 years ago.  Yoga is very effective because it is a combination of many other tension relieving activities like deep breathing, physical movement, and meditation.