Relaxation
When I relax I am calmand quiet. I can focus. I feel strong and healthy. I have a good sleep.
When families learn relaxation techniques, everyone feels healthier and happier more often.
There is a great deal of evidence to suggest that people who find time for regular relaxation practices have more energy, experience better quality sleep, build stronger immune systems, improve their ability to concentrate, are more efficient, and experience a range of health and emotional benefits.
Ideas to apply the PLS Relaxation concept at home:
• Applying relaxation activities at home assists children to maintain their balance at home and school, and can lower energy after high energy activities.
• Relaxation can assist children to re-focus after a disruption, interruption or event.
• The whole family can develop and apply relaxation techniques that assist them to become more present and focused or less stressed, e.g., at the end of the day or before dinner or after dinner or before bed.
• Encouraging your children to use relaxation techniques can assist in managing perceived anxiety or nervousness before tests or exams or any significant event and can also assist to diffuse escalated situations.
• Playing guided relaxation audios can assist with the transition to bedtime and potentially assist the quality of sleep achieved for all family members. Breathing techniques can activate the relaxation response in the body. You can research the 4 - 7 - 8 breathing technique by Andrew Weil or Positive Living Skills’s One Breath relaxation can work wonders.
• Taking connected family time together participating in relaxing activities will boost physical, emotional and mental health for all family members.
• Having a quiet corner or dedicated relaxation space in your home can encourage young people to spend time there when feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
• While it’s important to stay up to date with news, sometimes when traumatic events are played out in the media it can distress all members of the family. Limiting the time we all spend watching dramas unfold online or on TV can assist, then switching off and finding time for relaxation activities can assist to rebalance.