Relaxation

Relaxation is an essential requisite for all teachers. No matter how disruptive, aggressive or uncooperative students are, stay totally calm and unflappable. It is important that students perceive that their irresponsible behaviour has no control over you. If you lose your cool in the face of their problematic behaviour they will be quick to spot this weakness and exploit it for their own needs. 

Relaxation is a skill that needs practice, just like driving a car, playing golf and playing the piano. At the beginning of training yourself to relax it is good to practise an exercise twice daily for ten to fifteen minutes at a time. There are many types of relaxation methods, for example yoga, transcendental meditation, progressive muscular relaxation, hypnosis, autogenics and visualisations. Different methods suit different people.

RELAXATION EXERCISES

Quick release of tension exercise

Whenever you feel anxious, panicky or uptight…

1. Let your breath go (don’t breathe in first).

2. Take in a slow, gentle breath; hold it for a second.

3. Let it go, with a leisurely sigh of relief.

4. Drop your shoulders at the same time and relax your hands.

5. Make sure your teeth are not clenched together.

6. If you have to speak, speak more slowly and in a lower tone of voice.

Short relaxation exercise
This exercise is designed for when you have only a short time to spare. It is better to have a chair with arms but ideally you should be able to relax anywhere you find yourself. Use a cushion in the small of the back if it helps. Make sure you are warm.

Sit upright and well back in the chair so that your thighs and back are supported; rest your hands in the cradle position on your lap or lightly on top of your thighs. If you like, take off your shoes, and let your feet rest on the ground (if you can’t touch the floor, try to find a book or similar object to rest them on). If you want to, close your eyes.

Begin by breathing out first. Then breathe in easily, just as much as you need. Now breathe out slowly, with a slight sigh, like a balloon slowly deflating. Do this once more, slowly … breathe in … breath out … as you breathe out, feel the tension begin to drain away. Then go back to your ordinary breathing, even, quiet, steady.

Now direct your thoughts to each part of your body in turn, to the muscles and joints.

Think first about your right foot … toes … ankle … they are resting heavily on the floor. Let both your feet, your toes and ankles start to relax.

Now think about your legs. Let your legs feel completely relaxed and heavy on the chair. Your thighs, your knees roll outwards when they relax, so let them go. 

Think now about your back and your spine. Let the tension drain away from your back and from your spine. Follow your breathing, and each time you breath out, relax your back and spine a little more.

Let your abdominal muscles become soft and loose. There’s no need to hold your stomach in tight, it rises and falls as you breathe quietly. Feel that your stomach is completely relaxed.

No tension in your chest. Let your breathing be slow and easy, and each time you breathe out, let it go a little more.

Think now about the fingers of your left hand … they are curved, limp and quite still. Now the fingers of your right hand… relaxed … soft and still. Let this feeling of relaxation spread … up your arms … feel the heaviness in your arms … up to your shoulders. Let your shoulders relax, let them drop easily … and then let them drop even further than you thought they could. Think about your neck. Feel the tension melt away from your neck and shoulders. Each time you breathe out, relax your neck a little more.

Before we move on, just check to see if all these parts of your body are still relaxed – your feet, legs, back and spine, stomach, hands, arms, neck and shoulders. Keep your breathing gentle and easy. Every time you breathe out, relax a little more and let all the tension ease away from your body. No tension – just enjoy this feeling of relaxation.

Now think about your face. Let the expression come off your face. Smooth out your brow, and let your forehead feel wide and relaxed. Let your eyebrows drop gently. There is no tension around your eyes, your eyelids slightly closed, your eyes are still. Let your jaw unwind, teeth slightly apart as your jaw unwinds more and more. Feel the relief of letting go.

Now think about your tongue and throat. Let your tongue drop down to the bottom of your mouth and relax completely. Relax your tongue and throat. And your lips slightly parted, no pressure between them. Let all the muscles in your face unwind and let go … there is no tension in your face … just let it relax more and more.

Now, instead of thinking about yourself in parts, feel the all-over sensation of letting go, of quiet and/or rest. Check to see if you are still relaxed. Stay like this for a few moments, and listen to your breathing … in … and out … let your body become looser, heavier, each time you breathe out.

Continue for a little longer, and enjoy this time for relaxation.

Coming back – slowly, move your hands a little and your feet. When you are ready, open your eyes and sit quietly for a while. Stretch, if you want to, or yawn, and slowly start to move again.