Skip to the content

Kansas State University

Deep Muscle Relaxation Exercise

Click here for Text of the Deep Muscle Relaxation Exercise

Click here for audio file of Deep Muscle Relaxation Exercise

You can get a free player at
Link to Real Player

Text of the
TENSE-RELAX FOR DEEP MUSCLE RELAXATION EXERCISE
Counseling Services
Kansas State University

The technique used in this tape is based on a system called "Progressive Relaxation" which was developed by a physician, Edmund Jacobson.

To begin, assume a sitting position. It is easier to learn how to use your relaxation skills throughout the day if you practice while seated, rather than lying down. Sit with your back fairly straight, in a chair that is comfortable for you. Place your feet flat on the floor to help support you as you become more relaxed. Let your hands rest comfortably in your lap. Close your eyes so you can more easily focus on your internal sensations. Let yourself relax as deeply as you can right now.

First, I'll ask you to tense some specific muscles while letting your other muscles remain relaxed. Focus your attention on the feelings of tension that come from those tensed muscles. Then, I'll ask you to release the tensed muscles all at once and notice how those muscles feel as you allow them to relax more and more. Note the sensations that come from those muscles as they relax progressively deeper and deeper. You will learn to be more aware of the difference between tension and relaxation and to let yourself relax more deeply anytime you choose.

To begin, gently shift your attention to your hands, lying in your lap. Let them remain there. And, now, clench your fists. Let all your other muscles remain relaxed. Focus just on the feelings of tension in your forearms and hands. Notice the location of the muscles that are tensed. And, now, relax all at once. Don't ease off, just let go. Study the sensations in your hands and forearms as the muscles relax further and further.

Next, pull your forearms up against your upper arms as far as you can. Let your hands and wrists hang limp. Pull your forearms up tight now and feel the large muscles in your upper arm, the biceps, tighten. Describe to yourself mentally the tension in your biceps and be aware of the location of these muscles. Hold it. Relax, let your arms just flop down into your lap.

During each of these exercises notice the contrast between how the muscles feel when they're tensed and when they are relaxed.

Now, straighten your arms out in front of you at shoulder height with your thumbs touching each other. Let your wrists hang limp. Now, turn your hands away from each other so that your palms are facing out and you can feel the muscles tense up the back of your upper arms. Hold it and study the tension along the back of your upper arm. Relax now and just let your arms drop down. As you perform each of these exercises, check to be sure that you are letting the rest of your muscles remain relaxed.

Now, raise your arms straight out to the side until they are level with your shoulders; let your wrists hang limp. You're not tensing against anything, so it will take a little more time before the muscles feel tense. The muscles which are tensed are across the tops of your upper arms and extend up into the back of your neck. Relax now. File away in your memory what you did in order to let these muscles relax so that during the day you can recreate the same feelings of relaxation on your own.

Gently shift your attention to your head and raise your eyebrows. At the same time, imagine pulling your scalp down to meet your eyebrows. Don't worry if you can't feel your scalp; many people can't. Feel the tension in your forehead and up across the top of your skull. Release the tension all at once, now. Just allow your forehead to smooth out. Forehead muscles are surprisingly important. Being able to relax these muscles can help muscles in the whole upper part of the body relax.

Once again, raise your eyebrows and feel the muscles that are tense. Now try to let go approximately half of the tension from your forehead, while keeping the remaining tension at a constant, steady level. Now, let half of that tension go and hold the remaining tension steady; and release half of that tension.Try to maintain just a tiny level of tension. This is an excellent exercise to help you become aware of when you just beginning to tense your forehead even a little bit. And relax now. Let all the tension go and just enjoy the good feeling as your forehead relaxes and smoothes out gradually, lets go and relaxes deeper and deeper. Remember what your forehead feels like now when it is relaxed so you can be aware of even the smallest amount of tension during the day. This can be a key to relaxing the rest of your body.

Close your eyes tightly, now. You can feel the muscles tense that circle your eyes. Relax . . . Let all the tensions leave. Allow your eyelids to rest gently while your eyes remain closed.

While your eyes remain closed, slowly roll your eyes to the right in a large circle. It's easy to strain these muscles, so roll your eyes wide enough to feel the muscles but don't strain. Feel the tension in those muscles that move your eyes to the right. and as the tension passes to those muscles that move your eyes downward; to the left; and up and around. Now, go back around to your left.

Just think of looking at nothing and be aware of the sensations as you let the tensions leave these muscles.

Now, pucker your lips. Feel the circular muscles around your mouth work. Relax.

Clench your teeth. Let your lips remain relaxed while clenching your teeth. Feel the muscles tighten in the corners of your jaw and on up into your temples. If you can't feel the tension in your temples, just reach your fingers up and touch your temples to feel that tension. Relax now. Just let your jaw hang slack, and let all the tension go out of it.

Just imagine yourself humming a very low restful note that vibrates throughout your whole body.

Now tense the muscles in your neck that move your head back. While keeping those muscles tight, try to move your head forward so that you're tensing one set of muscles against another. In addition, try to move your head to the right and to the left. Hold it. Now, let the muscles in your neck relax all at once. Let your neck relax so deeply that if a breeze came along it would be able to blow your head from side to side.

Move the points of your shoulders forward and together as if you were trying to touch your shoulders together in front of you. Now relax and pull your shoulders back as if you were trying to touch the points of your shoulder blades together behind you. And relax, now. Just feel the relaxation spread down your shoulders and upper back.

Tighten the muscles that move your knees together. At the same time, tighten the muscles that move your knees apart. At the same time, tense the muscles that push down and the ones that raise your thighs. And, finally, think of crossing your right leg over your left and your left leg over your right. Study all the feelings of tension. Relax, now just let those muscles lengthen and smooth out. Feel the muscles gradually lengthen as they relax more and more. Now, point your toes downward so that they are in direct line with your legs. Feel the muscles that are tensed in your calves. And relax, now. Pull your toes up as if to touch your shins. Feel the muscles work up your shins. Relax now, just let go.

In this next exercise, be careful not to tense too hard because you can cramp these muscles. Make a fist with your toes by curling your toes under. Feel the muscles tighten up under your arch. And relax now.

In order to enhance your relaxation and help you become more deeply relaxed, you can practice this breathing exercise. Breathe in slowly and evenly until your lungs are 3/4 full. Then exhale by letting just the weight of your chest expell the air. Breathe in slowly and effortlessly to 3/4 full; and let the weight of your chest expell the air from your lungs. As you exhale, just let everything go and allow the weight of your chest to expell the air from your lungs. This is a good breathing exercise you can use to start your relaxation during the day.

Learn to use your exhalation as a signal for every other muscles in your body to relax a little more.

Continue this form of breathing, just being aware of the air coming in and out of your lungs. If any muscle has some remaining tension that sticks out above the others, find the switch to that tensed muscle and turn it off. Don't try to relax by moving, because moving you will re-tense muscles and it takes those muscles longer to relax. Also, remember that the more often you allow yourself to relax the sooner you will be able to learn to relax even these chronically tense areas.

While continuing your breathing, as I count backwards from 10 to 1, allow yourself to become more relaxed with each count. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. Just allow all your muscles from head to toe to smooth out as you drift down into deeper and deeper relaxation.

Learning a skill takes practice, be that skill playing tennis, dancing, or writing. Learning to relax when we choose to at any time also is a skill, so we need to practice it.

Choose a time each day (when your stomach is empty) when you will practice this relaxation technique. Don't worry about doing it precisely as it has been presented. Doing it is more important. So practice what parts you felt helped you the most. Then, occasionally, listen to the tape to refresh your memory. And enjoy learning to relax!

When your body gets deeply relaxed, it is important to become active again, slowly. Become aware of your feet against the floor; your body against the chair. Take 5 deep breaths and feel yourself becoming more and more alert with each breath, more rested and refreshed.

Wiggle your fingers and your toes. And, at your own rate, whenever you are ready, go ahead and open your eyes.

All sound files created using
Real Producer Logo

Please send comments to: Dorinda Lambert, KSU Counseling Services
web page coordinator - counsel@ksu.edu