What is Progressive Muscle Relaxation?
The American Doctor Edmund Jacobson (1888-1983) observed that inner stress and anxiety are linked to a tense musculature, while on the other hand a relaxed musculature leads to inner peace.
On this basis, he developed a technique which is simple to learn and yet highly efficient. When instructed to do so, certain groups of muscles are activated and then relaxed and the whole physical sensation is closely followed. The muscles then become relaxed, and blood flow and pulse rate are positively influenced. The sense of physical relaxation in turn has a reciprocal effect on the mental relaxation. Again, it is important to condition this effect by regular independent exercise and the correct adaptation of the individual setting depending upon the actual diagnosis of the coachee.