Why teach relaxation?
Primal human survival relied on our instinctive reactions to stress but these instincts are largely at odds with our now relatively safe but hectic modern society. From birth, we gradually learn from our peers how and when to override the natural instincts of crying, fleeing or fighting. However, life deals out different stresses and we don’t all get the education that we need, often leaving us ill-prepared to cope with everyday situations. The negative physiological effect this has can impact dramatically on our health and affect our life chances. Moreover, without direction, many seek release in quick fix solutions such as over-eating, drinking, smoking or taking drugs which seriously compound the negative effects on physical and mental health, so learning how to properly relax is a vital life skill, essential for our long-term health, well-being and success.
For those going through a stressful experience a relaxation session can be an invaluable aid to successfully coping with a situation. However, as well as being a REactive skill, relaxation is also a PROactive skill, physically and mentally preparing us for the inevitable ups and downs of everyday life at home, school or work. People with special needs such as physical disabilities, attention deficit or autistic spectrum disorders often find everyday situations more stressful than others, so relaxation can be a highly therapeutic way for them to learn strategies for recognising and managing their emotions.
Anxiety, anger and depression all impair our ability to process information effectively. When relaxed, we free our ‘working memory’, greatly increasing our capacity to learn and improving the effectiveness of integrated social and emotional strategies. This results in greater success in education and work, improvements in behaviour, and enhanced social cohesion.
The great thing about teaching relaxation is that it is learnt through experience — the more you do, the better you get — so not only will your students feel the benefit, you will too!
