Relaxing

[Danny1993]

Hey, can anybody suggest any Relaxation techniques that are any good? Im a real light sleeper and takes me around 1hour to get to sleep with makes it hard to AP, even if i wake up.

[Xanth]

Well, suffice to say that "relaxing" isn't a pre-requisite to sleeping.

Have you tried learning to meditate?

[Danny1993]

I have and still am, trying to learn to meditate.

[Mini stapler]

Tense your whole body, laying down.

Start with your right arm, tense up & hold for a few seconds.
Then the left.
Then the right leg.
Then the left.
Then tense the stomach.
Then tense both arms.
Then both legs.
and the whole body.

Hit all the muscles you can, and hold each tense for a few seconds.

Supposed to relax your body really well. Other than the kind of silent mind meditating to relax, I like to daydream eyes closed, build up a place I'd like to be in my mind totally focused upon this creation in my mind and after a while when I stop daydreaming my mind is very clear, no wondering thoughts, might just be me, but I find it very relaxing 

[Xanth]

I have and still am, trying to learn to meditate.

And what are you trying in order to learn this? 

Tense your whole body, laying down.

Start with your right arm, tense up & hold for a few seconds.
Then the left.
Then the right leg.
Then the left.
Then tense the stomach.
Then tense both arms.
Then both legs.
and the whole body.

Hit all the muscles you can, and hold each tense for a few seconds.

Supposed to relax your body really well. Other than the kind of silent mind meditating to relax, I like to daydream eyes closed, build up a place I'd like to be in my mind totally focused upon this creation in my mind and after a while when I stop daydreaming my mind is very clear, no wondering thoughts, might just be me, but I find it very relaxing 

That's a progressive muscle relaxation technique.

I'd make one small change though... start with relaxing the muscles in your head first, then work your way down from there.  The feeling you're aiming for is an actual physical drooping of the muscles as they relax and allow gravity to take hold of them.  It's amazing at how much tension people CONSTANTLY hold in the muscles of the head without even realizing it.

It wasn't until I actually REALLY relaxed the muscles that I noticed this.

[Mini stapler]

'progressive muscle relaxation technique.' - That's the one!

Yeah that's it, going top down. I've not used it before but read about the technique a while back, supposed to be very effective. Sorry a bit of a bad habit of mine is skimping on details & precision even when they are important, & going with a general concept.

[Xanth]

'progressive muscle relaxation technique.' - That's the one!

Yeah that's it, going top down. I've not used it before but read about the technique a while back, supposed to be very effective. Sorry a bit of a bad habit of mine is skimping on details & precision even when they are important, & going with a general concept.

I've you've ever used any of the TMI Gateway tracks this is the one Robert Monroe runs you through. 

You can use just this technique to project.  What you have to do though is put all your focus towards the relaxation process... so much so that you push the physical directly out of your mind.

[Lionheart]

 
That's a progressive muscle relaxation technique.

I'd make one small change though... start with relaxing the muscles in your head first, then work your way down from there.  The feeling you're aiming for is an actual physical drooping of the muscles as they relax and allow gravity to take hold of them.  It's amazing at how much tension people CONSTANTLY hold in the muscles of the head without even realizing it.

It wasn't until I actually REALLY relaxed the muscles that I noticed this.

Yes, the head is the best place to start. The eyes and eye muscles in general are always my starting points. Once you relax them, noticing become a lot easier. But you can really tell a difference once you relax your jaw muscles too, You hold a lot of stress in your jaws. I do a 5 minute progressive relaxation session everytime I attempt to Phase. I start by mentally saying "My eyes are relaxed, relaxed, relaxed, my eyes are relaxed", then I continue that mental command on every section of my body. I live with Chronic Pain so this works to perfection. I just wish this technique would rid of the pain period while in this physical reality. Oh well, life goes on! 
Good Luck and Safe Travels! 

[mindflood]

breathing. try slowing down and lengthening your breath while lying down or sitting, pausing for a few seconds between each inhale and exhale.  If you want, you can add a stretch co-ordinated with your breath, as long as you remember to concentrate on both. This additional step will not only help you relax, but also remove tension from your muscles which can inhibit you from getting a good rest.

[roman67]

Tense your whole body, laying down.

Start with your right arm, tense up & hold for a few seconds.
Then the left.
Then the right leg.
Then the left.
Then tense the stomach.
Then tense both arms.
Then both legs.
and the whole body.

Hit all the muscles you can, and hold each tense for a few seconds.

Supposed to relax your body really well. Other than the kind of silent mind meditating to relax, I like to daydream eyes closed, build up a place I'd like to be in my mind totally focused upon this creation in my mind and after a while when I stop daydreaming my mind is very clear, no wondering thoughts, might just be me, but I find it very relaxing 

This technique is better for relaxing.