It is easy enough to become excited or stressed. The way the body reacts during such a state is called the fight or flight response; in a perilous situation the body prepares itself for fight or flight. The blood pressure rises and the blood flow to the brain and muscles increases at the expense of the internal organs. Often this automatic reaction is completely out of proportion compared to what has triggered it. Even just a minor daily problem can be enough to create a stressed state.
Dr. Herbert Benson from Beth Israel Hospital School in Boston has realized, through his research into high blood pressure, the significance of proper relaxation. With his first book The Relaxation Response he introduced this term in relation to methods for relaxing and lowering the blood pressure. In contrast to the fight or flight response, the relaxation response does not always come by itself when it is needed.
“Just sitting quietly or, say, watching television, is not enough to produce the physiological changes. You need to use a relaxation technique that will break the train of everyday thought, and decrease the activity of the sympathetic nervous system.” (Dr. H. Benson)
“The advantage seems to come from the physiology of relaxation rather than by mere suggestion.” (Dr. P. M. Lehrer)
The relaxation technique works by itself; you need only lie still and follow the instructions. Through meditation and awareness training you will also be able to see when the fight or flight response is about to be triggered, and thereby become better at choosing how to react.
Copyright © 2010 Body and Spirit Healing
