Practicing Relaxation
There is no single relaxation therapy or technique; rather, there are multiple, seemingly disparate relaxation practices. These range from traditional forms, like meditation and yoga, to more modern forms, like imagery exercises and progressive muscle relaxation. These various forms often are grouped together as a single class of treatments because each has been shown to produce relaxation and treat problems rooted in, or exacerbated by, negative emotions and stress. People use and prescribe relaxation techniques because they work. Even so, clear understanding of the mechanisms or active ingredients responsible for their effectiveness has remained elusive (Blumenthal, 1985).