Believe it or not, intentionally creating tension is a relaxation technique – as long as you remember to relax afterwards!
Try this: bunch your hands up into fists as tight as possible. Now, slowly let your fingers roll out, feeling the tension evaporate from your hands and fingers. Try it again, slower. For maximum effect, deep breathe while tensing and relaxing.
You can try this with almost any part of your body. Here are some examples:
- Scrunch your eyes up
- Curl your toes towards your shins
- Make a big frown and then smile
- Tense your abs as tight as you can
You can even purposely tense yourself from your toes all the way up to your head, and then relax from your head to your toes. Remember, the key is to go slowly, and deep breathe if possible while tensing and relaxing.