The Relaxation Response

Service Description

Feeling the pressure of a demanding schedule? Learn the evidence-based technique to actively switch off your 'fight-or-flight' mode and access a state of profound mental and physical rest. In our always-on world, it can feel like we are constantly operating in 'fight-or-flight' mode. This class teaches you how to consciously activate its opposite, a powerful, innate state of deep rest known as the Relaxation Response. This is more than just simple relaxation, it's a specific and measurable physiological state that provides an antidote to accumulated stress. Pioneering work by Dr. Herbert Benson at Harvard Medical School uncovered the body's Relaxation Response, and learning to engage it is a foundational skill for anyone looking to build resilience and improve recovery. By learning to elicit this state, you gain a practical tool to navigate pressure with greater ease. The science is robust, research confirms that engaging in this practice leads to a cascade of calming physiological changes, including a measurable decrease in heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen consumption. This session is perfect for anyone feeling the effects of a demanding professional life. You will learn a simple, repeatable technique to guide your body and mind into a state of deep decompression, helping you to recover your energy, improve your clarity, and build a sustainable foundation for wellbeing. Class Schedule: 1. Welcome & Introduction: We’ll begin by introducing the concept of the Relaxation Response as a powerful, evidence-based tool for recovery. 2. First Guided Meditation: A short Calming Breath practice to help you begin the process of settling your nervous system. 3. The 'Why' of Recovery: A brief, clear explanation of the body's stress response and how the practice you're about to learn actively counteracts it. 4. Main Guided Meditation: A longer guided practice specifically designed to help you elicit the Relaxation Response, systematically calming your body and mind. 5. Integration & Closing: We’ll finish with key insights on how and when to use this technique to effectively decompress after a demanding day.