* Augusta Mackeviciute explores the importance of relaxation for women, setting out the benefits and concluding it should not be ignored….
It seems that new research is constantly coming out that demonstrates the health benefits of proper rest and relaxation.
In fact, this is pretty much a non-negotiable at this stage; all women should be doing something to allow them to enter a state of deep relaxation on a daily basis.
This article discusses ways that we can achieve deep relaxation, as well as why it’s so important for female health.
Background: Ways we can unwind
Once thought of as a triviality or luxury by many, more and more of us are starting to realise that incorporating some form of relaxation into our daily routine is necessary for our overall health and wellbeing.
Ultimately, what one woman will find relaxing might be totally different for another woman.
So, it’s important to keep in mind that the methods outlined in this article might be less effective for you than another activity that you enjoy or find relaxing; it’s important for you to listen to your body first and foremost. For example, you might prefer to unwind by trying out online casinos, reading books, watching films, and so on.
Regardless of how you to choose to relax, what’s most important is that you’re finding ways to do it.
Women today lead more hectic and stressful lives than ever before, after all. Many of us are under intense pressure from our families, workplaces, and society more generally to keep up appearances, as well as cater to the needs of others.
One outcome of this is that we often end up neglecting to take care of ourselves.
This is easy to do, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be vigilant about this. If we fail to make time throughout the day for relaxation, our stress levels can compound; this, in turn, can cause a cocktail of health problems, including a disrupted menstrual cycle, higher blood pressure, and so on.
If you find yourself struggling to carve out some regular me time each day, then you might like to think about what you can do to make it easier for yourself to make it into part of your routine.
There are some simple methods you can use to become more productive and organised, and you might find that this helps you devise and commit to a relaxation schedule of sorts.
Why relaxation is vital for women’s health
As mentioned above, women have never been under more pressure than they are today, and this is an environment that creates plenty of excess stress and anxiety for many of us.
What’s more, failing to manage this stress can cause us to develop health issues over the long term, so it’s important to find some method of stress management and commit to practicing it on a regular basis.
Female-specific issues that can arise from high levels of stress include hormonal disruptions, irregular menstruation, exacerbated symptoms of menopause, and so on. So, stress management is far more than a simple form of blowing off steam for many women; it’s actually a critical issue for their overall quality of life.
Yoga
Yoga is a fantastic way to enter a state of deep relaxation.
It also provides a number of additional health benefits that are especially helpful for women.
It can be a great way of strengthening and relaxing the pelvic floor; many women struggle with pelvic floor muscles that are either too tight or too weak. So, by doing yoga, you can not only achieve relaxation and improved mental health, but your body will get stronger, too.
One of the important things about yoga is how versatile it is.
There are plenty of diverse ways to practice yoga, with some of them being more intense or involved than others, so you can simply choose whichever suits you best and feels most enjoyable to you.
There’s no right or wrong answer here.
Meditation
Meditation is another excellent way that we can achieve deep relaxation in our day-to-day lives. One of the most appealing aspects of meditation is its simplicity; you don’t need any fancy clothing or equipment for the practice.
All you need to do is to find some time to sit or lie down and focus on your breathing.
Naturally, this is easier than it sounds! However, cultivating a meditation practice is worth it for the health benefits it conveys. And, of course, it’s absolutely fantastic for stress management and reduction.
So, if you’ve never tried meditation before, then now’s as good a time as any.
Other ways to relax and unwind
As mentioned above, there are plenty of ways that you can incorporate relaxation into your day beyond more traditional means like yoga and meditation.
In fact, this is what you should be doing; the method that works best for you will be the one you see the most benefit from practicing, after all.
So, you might like to try reading a book if you find that relaxing.
Or you could treat yourself to a spa treatment or massage, for instance. Many people also find that talking to a close friend can be a wonderful way to unwind and blow off some steam.
This article was written by Augusta Mackeviciute and first appeared on australianwomenonline.com.
