Learning to relax: info & tips

Regular relaxation is essential for our well-being. But most of us Wandering Minds, don't know how best to relax. Some of us are constantly in fight-and-flight mode. Digital devices provide distraction and dissociation, and our mind never shuts up. We may not even notice this. The good news is: we can learn to relax! In this blog post, you will find tips and ways to learn to relax.

I also had to learn to relax.
When ending up with a burnout in 2015, I learned the hard way that I was always stressed and tense. 
I wasn't aware of this. 
My physiotherapist had already mentioned a few times that I retain a lot of tension in my body. 
“Nonsense!” I said. 
“I don't feel any stress at all.” 
My tense state of being had become so normal, that I didn't even notice that I was never really relaxed.
The result of these years of tension in my body and mind was a burnout. 
It took me more than two years to recover.
The real recovery only started when I learned to relax. 
I managed to do this with Mindfulness, among other tools, like breathwork.

– José, founder of Wandering Minds

How not to do it: relax with Netflix & smartphone

Most of us are completely dependent on digital devices and need a constant connection to the internet. If you ask someone ‘what is your most relaxing moment of the day?', many will answer with ‘the moment when I can finally settle down on the couch, watch Netflix and check my social media. Often this happens in a dissociative way; half an hour later you may not even remember what you were doing. Your mind is so exhausted and overwhelmed that you “take yourself out of the situation.” This may sound wonderful, but unfortunately, our mind and body do not relax in this way.

“We can no longer do without our digital devices, and this makes it increasingly difficult to really switch off and relax. Our screens are used as a distraction technique”, says psychoanalyst David Morgan of the Institute of Psychoanalysis.

Relax, relax, take it easy! Easy?

It sounds very simple: just take it easy! Just take some time for yourself to relax. Go for a walk, listen to music or read a book. Unfortunately, the reality is that many people find it difficult to relax. Because we are always busy, whether with doing things or just thinking about random stuff, it is becoming increasingly difficult to slow down or take a break. Sometimes we even feel guilty when we take time to relax. “But I have so much to do!”, you may think. Or we ‘try to relax', but we continue to feel stress in our bodies.

Yet relaxing is essential for our well-being and functioning.

What is relaxation, really?

When we watch a movie or check social media, we are not really relaxing. Our brain produces beta waves or gamma waves; we are wide awake, alert and focused (beta) or involved in information processing (gamma).

If we really want to relax, feel calm and recharge our body and mind, we want to create the right brain waves. The slower the brain waves, the more relaxed we are. Delta brain waves are the most relaxing brain waves; we are in a deep sleep. A ‘light sleep' or deep relaxation produces theta waves. But alpha waves also fall within the ‘spectrum of relaxation'; alpha waves make us feel calm and relaxed.

Learn to relax by producing alpha brain waves

Alpha brainwaves are produced in different ways, for example by meditating and focusing on gratitude. But binaural beats can also help us create alpha waves. Yoga, running and walking in nature also create alpha waves in our brain.

Learning to relax with breathwork & breathing exercises

Perhaps one of the best ways to learn to relax is breathwork, also known as breathwork. This is in fact the most effective means of taking control of our nervous system and our mood; it works instantly and is very powerful!

Recently I came into contact with breathwork myself, and after just one session, I noticed how powerful this is. 
Not only did I feel extremely relaxed after a session, but I also got in touch with places in myself that I didn't even know existed. 
Amazing!

Breathwork is a collective term for practicing certain breathing techniques. This method is used in the west to de-stress, relax and to create more connection with ourselves. Breathwork is extremely popular and very effective if you want to learn to relax. Because breathing is the foundation of relaxation. When we calm your breath, we calm the tension in our muscles, our heartbeat and our emotions. Breathing sessions create space in our head and heart, and we experience more peace. The more often we are aware of our breathing, the easier it becomes to relax.

Breathwork can be done at home, but if you are not yet familiar with these techniques, it is wise to seek guidance. More and more yoga studios are offering breathwork sessions, but you can also contact Wim Hof ​​instructors. A simple Google search will bring you to someone near you!

For a while, I have been going to breathwork classes at the yoga studio every week. 
Just after the first session, I noticed the positive impact it has on my breathing and my well-being during the day. 
I feel a lot calmer and less exhausted.

Other ways to learn to relax

Breathwork, for us, is the best way to learn to relax, because we can take instant control over our nervous system. But of course, there are many other ways to relax. Think of listening to music, reading a book, taking a walk in nature, exercising, taking a bath or hot shower, getting a massage and drinking tea.

For me, it was important to realize that I really needed to ‘practice' relaxation. I see it as a kind of muscle that needs to be trained, although that sounds very contradictory, to relax & to train.

How did you learn to relax? We are very curious to see what works for you, scroll down and share it with us in the comments!