Progressive Muscle Relaxation, By Dr. Richard N. Feil.

During a counseling session, the body physically responds as a client wrestles through big parts of their story. I can visibly tell when, like a pressure cooker, stress builds up – tongue tied, shallow breathing, tightened throat or chest, clenched hands, increased heart rate, nausea, headache, sweating – the client needs to find the release valve to move back into a comfortable zone. I use this Progressive Muscle Relaxation technique for a client to ground themselves in order to move forward into the rest of their day feeling at ease.

Use it when you’re stressed, but also use it in times of calm, as it can help prevent future stress build up. Practicing calm mindfulness can help you better respond during your day to unexpected triggers like a plate crashing, receiving critical feedback or experiencing a disappointment. The more you make time for yourself to practice mindfulness, the more you will be able to get out of it in everyday life.