Quick relaxation activities

We get it. We're often up against busy schedules and it can be hard to find time to take a breath and relax. Here are a few quick ideas to try.

Brief Relaxation

• Prevents rush of thought. Can be used for on-the-spot relaxation in public or to promote sleep.
• Directions: Part your lips slightly. Place the tip of the tongue behind the lower teeth. Keep it there without pressure for a while. Continue with normal breathing.

Yawning

• One-minute tension release exercise allowing more oxygen to flow into the system. The lungs expand; the back, jaw, mouth and tongue relax. Nice to do near an open window.
• Directions: Drop your jaw gently until it feels large enough to take in a whole fruit. As you begin to yawn, it feels like it will never end. As you yawn, take a deep breath. When the yawn ends, you feel relaxed all the way down into your stomach. Your lungs have expanded and your back begins to release its tension.

Two-Minute Exercise

• Releases shoulder tension and is ideal for a person returning to a job that requires hours of sitting.
• Directions: Take a deep breath, hold it and raise your right shoulder. Gently roll it forward in a complete circle. Exhale. Do the same with the left shoulder, always starting with a deep breath. Repeat for two minutes.

Five-Minute Exercise

• Relaxes aching eyes, neck and shoulders.
• Directions: Close your eyes gently. Tell yourself that your eyes are dropping forward out of their sockets. You see nothing except soft, soothing darkness. Let your head drop until your jaw is almost on your chest; let the hinges of your jaw relax.
• Take a deep breath and begin to rotate your head. Let it fall softly to the right, then to the left, and then to the back so it falls between the shoulders. Then roll it to the left and forward. Exhale and rest. Take a deep breath and start to the left, rotating your head in the same way.

Five-Minute Rest Period

• Ideal for a person returning to a situation with limited time for him or herself.
• Directions: Lie in a darkened room. Yawn deeply. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Let your head and neck relax. Part your lips slightly, relax your jaw. Smile to expand your nostrils. By breathing better, you are releasing tension. Continue to breathe normally. When ready, open your eyes; get up slowly.