We all need to relax and to banish the stresses and strains of normal life but relaxing is not always as easy as we might think. Flopping down in front of your favorite television program might seem to do the trick but the reality is that it will simply distract your mind from the fact that you are stressed, but will not truly relax the body.

The best way to relax is to actually concentrate your attention onto relaxing your mind and body through one or more of a variety of relaxation exercises.

There are two basic types of relaxation exercise - progressive relaxation and relaxation response.

Progressive relaxation exercises require an awareness of the state of tension in your body's muscles, and an awareness of the opposite state of relaxation. Knowing and recognizing the difference allows you to slowly learn how to control the level of tension in your body. What's wonderful about this type of exercise is that, once you become skilled at it, you will be able to switch into relaxation mode with ease. You will be able to determine just where there is tension in your body and then to target those areas with relaxation.

Relaxation response is similar to progressive relaxation, but it does not require the initial awareness of tension in your muscles. Progressive relation works by having you relax your entire body using a variety of different thought processes and methods. There is usually a sequence to follow (running from head to toe or from toe to head, for example), and you may find it easier to use a tape which you can either make yourself or purchase from a wide range of local suppliers or through a number of different Internet sites. A tape or CD takes away the need for you to keep track of where you are in the sequence of an exercise and many people find that it makes relaxing easier.

Both methods are very effective and you might even find that they relax you so much that you are falling asleep before you finish them! Which type of exercise you choose will simply depend on what you are most comfortable with. For instance, if you have problems with muscle soreness or spasms, then you may find progressive relaxation exercises, which asks you to tighten those areas, uncomfortable and may prefer to use relaxation response exercises.

When you begin to relax, you may experience various sensations. You might feel a sensation of warmth, heaviness or tingling in various parts of your body. Some people feel as if they are floating but others feel nothing specific. Your breathing will slow and so will your heart rate. With practice, your ability to quieten any distracting thoughts will become easier and your thoughts will slow and drift.

If you find yourself worrying about things while practicing relaxation exercises, just acknowledge the thoughts, let them go and return to observing your breathing and performing the exercise steps.

Relaxation exercises can and should be a part of your everyday life. At first, the feelings of relaxation gained through exercise may be short lived, but don't give up! Simply work relaxation exercises into your daily routine and try to dedicate a minimum of 10-20 minutes each day to practicing some form of relaxation exercise. In time you will see an increasing benefit from your practice and the more consistent you are in exercising, the greater and longer-lasting the benefits will be.