Article: what happens when we relax

When we relax the parasympathetic system has an opportunity to function fully. The hormones activated by the sympathetic are deactivated by the parasympathetic, and so the system slows down body processes except those that are suppressed by the sympathetic i.e. the digestive system, the skin functions

Relaxation is a physiological state that is the opposite of the Stress State. Thus, relaxation involves developing a frame of mind that elicits a physiological state referred to as the Relaxation State. When a person achieves this relaxed state, a variety of physiological changes occur including:

• Increased parasympathetic nervous system activity (the energy conservation branch of the nervous system)
• Decreased sympathetic nervous system activity
• Decreased body metabolism
• Decreased heart rate
• Decreased blood pressure
• Decreased breathing rate
• Decreased oxygen consumption
• Decreased cardiac output
• Decreased muscular tension
• Increased blood clotting time

Other than these physiological benefits of relaxation, there is scientific evidence that relaxation on a regular basis is beneficial to ones health. Researchers have found that relaxation, when practiced regularly,

• is enjoyable
• can decrease symptoms of illness such as headache, nausea, rash, diarrhea
• can increase levels of physical energy
• can increase concentration
• can increase the ability to handle problems and increase overall efficiency
• can increase social satisfaction (e.g. in dealing with family, friends, and colleagues) and feelings of self-confidence
• is helpful in the treatment of insomnia
• can lower blood pressure
• can reduce severity of spastic esophagus
• can reduce severity of colitis
• can improve airway resistance for bronchial asthma
• can reduce headaches
• can lower emotional arousal, which seems to explain why some individuals do not overreact to stress

In addition, researchers have found that people who report they relax on a regular basis:

• are more psychologically stable
• are more physiologically stable
• are less anxious
• feel in greater control of their lives than people who do not practice regular relaxation
• achieve a faster return to a balance or normal state after reacting to stress