Relaxation Tips Newsletter

I'm Candi, with Inner Health Studio. Welcome to Edition 35 of Inner Health Studio Relaxation Tips.

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5 Tips for Reading Relaxation Scripts

These 5 tips for reading relaxation scripts outline some important things to remember in order to use relaxation scripts most effectively. These suggestions are tips for reading relaxation scripts out loud or recording your own audio.

Please note that all the scripts on innerhealthstudio.com, or other scripts you may find online or in books, are copyrighted. It is fine to read the scripts out loud for a group or for individuals, as long as the sessions are not recorded. Written permission is required if you want to make recordings of relaxation scripts for anything besides your own personal use. This includes YouTube videos, audio CDs, or any other form of distribution.

Relaxation Safety:

It is important to keep yourself safe when using relaxation techniques. Some relaxation techniques (such as taking a few deep breaths) can be used anytime, anywhere to quickly relax. Other techniques (visualization, progressive relaxation, sleep relaxation, etc) must be used only when safe to do so. Possible unsafe situations are those that require full alertness and responsiveness. Do not use relaxation techniques or listen to audio recordings of relaxation scripts while in situations that require you to be alert (for example, while driving).

Tips for Using Relaxation Scripts to Relax

2. Read the script slowly, and if you read out loud, use a calm voice. You may want to record yourself and then play back the audio for your own personal use. Your own voice can be particularly effective for inducing the relaxation response, because people often respond best to suggestions they provide themselves. You might find you are able to relax listening to your own voice better than listening to someone else.

3. Pause frequently. Provide ample time to relax and to follow each instruction. It is very common to read too quickly - what seems to be a very slow pace when reading, is not nearly as slow when listening. Take two or three breaths between each phrase. Pausing in the middle of a phrase can be effective, too.

4. When reading aloud, concentrate on saying each word clearly and slowly, but not so slow as to be distracting, and without elongating the words (a bit of practice will help you adjust your reading style to your own preferences). When reading a script silently to yourself, concentrate on picturing each word and action clearly before moving on to the next. Allow yourself to actually do each step and relax rather than just reading the information.

5. Background music can help create a calming atmosphere. Choose calming music without lyrics, and play at a low volume.

By following these tips for reading relaxation scripts, you can effectively read them to yourself silently and follow along, record your own relaxation audio, or read the scripts aloud for others.

Next month’s newsletter will be about facilitating a relaxation group, and will describe how to effectively read relaxation scripts out loud for others in a group setting.