Relaxation is what the mind does to the body. Notwithstanding this, athletes, surgeons, the military, and acrobats need a certain muscular tension in order to be able to perform their tasks correctly.
However, if muscles remain contracted for a long time or for too much, performance could lose its fluidity.
Learning to relax is absolutely a prerequisite for optimizing performance and for this reason those who develop this skill at high levels when they perform seem to do it with extreme ease.
All too often "top performers" focus on developing higher concentration or greater physical strength instead of focusing on their ability to relax.
Relaxation is both a mental and physical state of centering, of tranquility and of well-being without tension.
Through relaxation there is both a psychological and a physiological response. As far as the psychological one is concerned, relaxing leads to moving into an alpha wave mode that increases the general state of well-being/ creativity and it improves concentration.
Physiologically, people who are able to relax deeply, perform diaphragmatic breathing, slowing down the heartbeat, improving circulation and reducing muscle tension.
One of the performance expansion techniques, www.performanceexpansion.com, applied to obtain an optimal state of relaxation is that of Mindfulness.
The Mindfulness approach consists of "staying in the moment" and noticing one's thoughts, perceptions and emotions without judging them by letting them come to a conscious state; or being in a "Mind full" state.
Mindfulness has its origins in Buddhist meditation and numerous studies have reported that the application of these techniques increases performance and helps to be centered in the present.
Among the many techniques of Mindfulness that are used, there is that of ‘mindful breathing’.
It is not just a diaphragmatic breathing technique, but it is a targeted strategy to connect with ourselves and be centered in the present and in the moment.
Placing the brain in a state of relaxation favors an increase in the immune system, improves the quality of sleep, regenerates cells, reduces fatigue and reduces the risk of injuries.
It creates greater muscle fluidity, better heart rhythm, increases oxygenation and optimizes cognitive functions such as attention, concentration and motivation.
This is why for those who perform at high levels, developing these skills becomes essential in order to bring the mind into a state of conscious peace and enhance the fluidity of performance.
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