After a particularly stressful day at the office, do you find yourself feeling tense and uptight?  Many of us carry that tension in our muscles, particularly in our neck and shoulders.  At times like these, it can be difficult to unwind and relax.  That’s when we fantasize about having a full body massage from a professional masseuse!  But who has the time and money for that?  Here’s a great way to help you relax and release the tension in your muscles.  You can do this on your own and it only takes five to ten minutes.

This muscle relaxation technique involves systematically going through the body and tensing and then relaxing each muscle group.  You can do this either sitting comfortably in a chair or lying down in a comfortable position (without crossing the legs).  Tense each muscle group for about five seconds.  Close your eyes and breathe deeply throughout this exercise.  As you exhale, let go of the tension and release it completely.  Experience the muscle as totally relaxed and lead heavy.  Begin with the top of the head and progress downward to focus on all the muscles in the body.  Be sure to include the forehead, ears, eyes, mouth, neck, shoulders, arms and hands, chest, belly, thighs, calves and feet.  If you have limited time, you can do this exercise for just certain muscle groups.  Be sure to focus on those muscle groups in which you feel the most tension.  After relaxing your muscles, continue to breathe deeply and notice any remaining tension in the body.  Let it soften and wash away as though a wave were washing over you.  Then enjoy the resulting sense of peace and relaxation!