EASY - Relaxation
as a means of stress-management
by Prof. Wilm-Peter Möllmann, Dipl.-Psych.
EASY - Relaxation (Eye-shields and Audiocassette SYstem - Relaxation) is a very effective "lo-tec - lo-cost" way to relaxation, which is really easy and makes relaxation with all its known benefits to work in most situations with most people.
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| The eye-shields are what is commonly known as sleeping mask, but should be much more comfortable than the usual ones. When offered in a sympathetic way avoiding any arousal of fear this usually has a spontaneous relaxing effect in itself.
Relaxation instructions can of course be given orally, every relaxation method drawing profit from the "soft relaxation eye-shields". As EASY-Relaxation is meant to be largely self-administered, audiocassettes with instructions will be the usual kind of application, the author's cassettes specially referring to the "relaxation eye-shields".- According to individual preferences other cassettes including appropriate music cassettes may be effectively applied.-
EASY-Relaxation is a "system" in that there are different models of eye-shields for individual preferences - one being in silk for specially sensitive or anxious people - as well as audiocassettes of varying lengths and contents, including a version for the aching back and for migraine-like pains in German, with one version in English.
EASY-Relaxation has proved itself in more than 5 000 cases in various situations within health care and beyond. Its effectiveness is obvious through observation and self-reports. In the great majority of cases relaxation comes about from the very beginning. With the materials available there is no need to practice relaxation continually: this can be done, but relaxation can be achieved just as need is felt.
Conceptually it fits very well with BENSON's "Relaxation Response". The positive effects of this as well as other relaxation methods are well known and documented. What EASY-Relaxation has to offer more than these, but with less technical or financial effort than the so-called Mind-machines is its instant effectiveness
- without any prior (successful) experience,
- in the actual situation of stress, conflict or illness,
- initiating a lot of additional beneficial processes like enhanced body perception, greater sensitivity for psychological backgrounds &c. This makes on the one hand reliable integration of relaxation in medical treatments possible in many environments of the health system. On the other hand the attractivity of the method, specially of the shields when used in a sensitive non-threatening way makes EASY - Relaxation a very good tool in in stress-management in general, the physiological effects being as clear as the psychological ones. What is more application is possible in educational fields for all those involved, in working with all kinds of groups, in counselling and psychotherapy, and for all ages from pre-school childhood on. The shields can enrich movement, touch and communication too, all these gaining intensity and a relaxing aspect too. Making consequent use of the potentials of relaxation is absolutely worthwhile. EASY-Relaxation may be not only the easiest, but probably one of the best ways to do so, being adaptable to individual preferences and situations.
In spite of all the "easiness" of EASY - Relaxation it can be integrated in far reaching strategies of stress management and "mental training". Being developed mainly on a practical level, there is elaborate methodical and systematical know-how, which anybody interested in the method can make use of.
Prof. W.-P. Möllmann, Dipl.Psych., FHN, Fb.Sozialwesen, Richard-Wagner-Str.101, D-41065 Mönchengladbach T. (02161) 186-622, home: Hoserkirchweg 168, D-41747 Viersen, T. (02162)29561, Fax 29305
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