Relaxation techniques
Primarily focusing on relaxing the body, aiming to:
- release muscular tension
- assist with breathing problems
- help manage symptoms associated with treatment regimes and illness
- promote sleep
- alleviate stress and anxiety
Relaxation techniques will involve working gently with the breath. This can also be a helpful foundation to other self-care approaches such as meditation and visualization because it introduces the concept of ‘being’ rather than ‘doing’.
Meditation techniques
Primarily focusing on relaxing the mind, aiming to:
- promote inner harmony, peace and increased awareness
- reduce stress and anxiety
- alleviate fatigue
- promote relaxation
- improve sleep patterns
- manage symptoms associated with treatment regimes and illness.
Meditation techniques can involve focusing the mind on a particular object, sound or activity for example the gentle rhythm of your breath. It is thought that various regions of the brain are active during meditation and have an effect on physiological activities.
We also offer a group based 'Mindfulness Meditation Course' at Hammick House, Poundbury Dorchester. This course is based on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, helping people with chronic illness manage their lives and focuses on integrating mindfulness-based learning into daily life. For more information, use the contact details at the end of this page.
Visualisation techniques
Using the creative imagination to:
- alleviate stress and anxiety
- manage symptoms associated with treatment and illness
- support wellbeing, immune system and quality of life
It is thought that our negative thoughts and feelings can have a detrimental effect on the body, which responds chemically as if the images were actual events. If we replace these thoughts with positive ones and introduce feelings of well being, our body releases endorphins which help to strengthen the immune system.
