In response to each of these situations, Jefferson’s body would immediately start producing adrenaline.
It may seem a bit odd that Jefferson’s response to a perceived threat is essentially identical to Og’s.
This reaction is known as the “Fight or flight” response, and it helps us survive sudden dangers.
Relaxation Response So what does all this have to do with “Using relaxation to rev down and rev up?” It turns out that, just as we have a fight/flight response, our bodies also have what Dr. Herbert Benson dubbed the relaxation response.
The relaxation response is almost the exact opposite of the fight/flight response: blood pressure and respiration drop, muscles relax, and instead of preparing to fight or run, the body enters a restful state.
Initially, the relaxation response was seen as a way to turn off the flight/fight response, reduce stress related illnesses, and promote healing.
Subsequent research, by Dr. Benson and others, found that the relaxation response is key to a variety of other mental skills, and can be used not just to reduce arousal, but to increase it as well.
With practice, the relaxation response can be used to modulate arousal with a much finer level of control than the flight/fight response on its own.
Invoking the relaxation response requires two basic components: 1.
With these two components, the relaxation response can be invoked.
While sitting quietly in a chair is one of the easiest and most common ways of invoking the relaxation response, it can be invoked while standing, running, swimming, performing chi gong, etc.
In addition to the stress relief benefits, practicing relaxation technique has some other benefits as well.
As you enter a relaxation state, you will typically experience feelings of warmth spreading throughout your body.
Visualization One of the benefits of practicing relaxation techniques while remaining motionless is that both body and mind become quiet.
Relaxation plus visualization allows you even finer control over arousal because it enables you to imagine specific situations and scenarios: if you’re a runner, rather than wonder how you’ll respond if someone passes you, imagine the scenario and create the response you want to have.
In short, you are learning to modulate your responses and arousal levels, instead of trying to figure it out on the fly.
Athletes who can invoke the relaxation response in a stressful, competitive situation are more likely to enter a state of extremely high performance called the Zone.
Flow Another consequence of practicing relaxation technique is that it helps you develop the skill to increase your enjoyment of other activities.
If your relaxation technique enables you to enter a flow state, not only will you enjoy the experience more, but you’ll be more likely to attain a flow state in other activities, further increasing your enjoyment of those activities as well.
All this from learning to relax! Remember, invoking the relaxation response is a straight-forward process.
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