Relaxation: What is It?
Relaxation can be defined as the absence of tension in muscle groups, and a minimum or absence of "inner chatter" in our minds--the thoughts and worries that constantly go on.
Dyspnea, or the sensation of difficult and uncomfortable breathing, is one of the most often reported symptoms of respiratory diseases. Battling for breath produces anxiety, which creates muscle tension. This magnifies the need for oxygen.
When an individual feels "relaxed" in the popular sense, there is still tenseness in many muscle groups. We usually have some residual tension regardless of how relaxed we feel. The average person doesn't realize in which muscle groups he may be holding this tension.
