Room for Relaxation

The ‘World’s most relaxing room’ is a multimedia space created by Professor Richard Wiseman at the University of Hertfordshire. I came to know of it through Alka’s blog.

The main components of the room would include lavender aroma, calming glade-like green light, a soothing soundtrack, and a completely clear artificial blue sky.

The article also provides the following questionnaire which helps identify people who might be living life at a pace that exacerbates stress.

1. Do you seem to glance at your watch more than others?
2. When someone takes too long to get to the point, do you feel like hurrying them along?
3. Are you often the first person to finish at mealtimes?
4. When walking along a street, do you often feel frustrated because you are stuck behind others?
5. Would you become irritable if you sit for an hour without doing anything?
6. Do you walk out of restaurants or shops if you encounter even a short queue?
7. If you are caught in slow-moving traffic, do you seem to get more annoyed than other drivers?

Five or more ‘yes’ responses suggest that it might be time to take your foot off the accelerator and slow down.

Tennis Ball Massage

A tennis ball can be used to for a back self-massage to relax tense muscles. Standing with the back against a wall, a tennis ball is to be placed between the back and wall. By running the tennis ball up and down the back and in a circular motion one can experience a great massage.

This self-massage can also be tried by placing two tennis balls in a tube sock and tying a knot to close it. The balls are then placed on either side of the spine, either leaning against a wall or lying on the floor. Then one has to roll the way up and down the back.

When the feet hurt putting a tennis ball under each foot and rolling the balls around with slight pressure is quite helpful.

It is relevant to remember that the tennis balls are to be kept on the muscles and not directly on the spine.

Indian Ragas

Certain Indian ragas have got healing potential. The music is said to have a positive effect on hormonal and glandular functions. Listening to specific kinds of music at specific times of the day is said to have beneficial effects.

Specific ragas are mentioned to be effective in various conditions including indigestion and hypertension.

Music

Music bypasses the conscious mind. It is said to go directly to and stimulate the part of the brain that controls the emotions and other important functions.

Music therapy uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals.

It is mentioned that listening to music for about 20 minutes a day can have a big impact on a person’s physical and emotional well-being. Music that is played at sixty beats or less per minute slows down the metabolic responses and decreases the stress level and increases the amount of endorphins.

One should choose the music that one enjoys. When assisting someone who is unable to identify their music preferences, the focus should be on the music that was popular when the individual was a young adult.