How to Perform Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Co-authored by Patricia Ladis PT, CBBA

Last Updated: December 1, 2023 References

Progressive muscle relaxation is a systematic technique for managing stress and achieving a deep state of relaxation, originally developed by Dr. Edmund Jacobson in the 1920s. Tensing and then releasing various muscle groups throughout the body relaxes you and has a host of beneficial effects, from helping you to sleep, to lowering pain during childbirth, to reducing anxiety and depression, to easing headaches, stomach aches, and fatigue.^{[1]
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Go to source} It may even help you quit smoking by reducing cravings!^{[2]
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Research source} For maximum benefit, you'll want to practice a form of progressive muscle relaxation that includes guided imagery and deep breathing.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Getting Ready

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Though progressive relaxation can be used to relieve stress at night and aid in sleep, the goal is typically to learn to relax while still awake. You don't want to nod off in the middle of your session.^{[3]
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Loose-fitting clothes are best; don't wear anything too tight, as this will limit your movement. And don't forget to take off your shoes so you can properly tense and relax your feet.^{[4]
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Often, when people are very relaxed they become chilly. Have a blanket or sheet nearby that you can drape over yourself if you get cold. The warmth will help you to relax.^{[5]
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4
Find a quiet place. You will want to find a space where no interruptions or sudden noises will interrupt your relaxed state. A small, uncluttered space in your home is ideal. Dim the lights if possible to create a soothing atmosphere.^{[6]
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- You may want to try putting on a relaxing music track of nature sounds, bells or chimes, wind in the trees or ocean waves. A music track can also help with drowning out ambient noises you can't control.
- Some people also like to burn incense or scented candles during the session to control the smell surroundings.
A full session will take 10-15 minutes. Turn off your cell phone or pager. If you have a landline, turn off the ringer. Ask your family not to interrupt you during your session.
6
Get into a comfortable position. You can perform progressive relaxation standing, sitting, or lying down. Sitting in a reclining armchair is ideal, as it allows you to relax more than if you were standing, but you are also less likely to fall asleep than if you were lying on your back.^{[7]
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Research source} Once in position, close your eyes, uncross your legs, and let your hands rest comfortably at your sides or on your lap.
- Many people find it easy to start by lying on your back with pillows under your calves, and knees bent at a 90-degree angle.^{[8]
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Deep breathing has been shown to help trigger the body's natural relaxation response, typified by lower blood pressure and a feeling of relaxation and wellbeing.^{[9]
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Go to source}^{[10]
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Research source} Take a deep breath, hold it for four seconds, and relax as you let it out. Pay attention to how your abdomen rises and falls with each breath. After 5 deep breaths, you are ready to begin.^{[11]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Mastering the Basic Technique

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Work with one specific part of your body at a time. Take a deep, slow breath through your nose as you squeeze the muscles for 5 seconds. The key is to tense the muscles as hard as you can without hurting yourself.^{[12]
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Exhale slowly through your mouth as you quickly relax, letting all tension flow out of the muscles. Focus on the now relaxed muscles; they should be loose and limp.^{[13]
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Don't move too fast. It will help to relax your body if you go slowly and deliberately, taking time between each tension-relaxation step. While relaxing, breathe slowly and evenly.^{[14]
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Warmth is associated with relaxation. You can increase your level of relaxation by imagining the warm rays of the sun shining on the part of your body that you are focusing on. In addition, you can imagine yourself in a safe, relaxing place before or after you start your session (see Adding Guided Imagery below).^{[15]
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5
Repeat these steps until you have relaxed your entire body. You can start with your head and move down, or with your feet and move up.
- If a set of muscles is still tense, you may want to repeat the tense and relax cycle again before moving on to the next set of muscles.
- You may also find it more effective to tense one side of the body then the other. For a quicker relaxation session, tense them both at the same time.^{[16]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Relaxing From Toes to Scalp

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Breathe deeply through your nose as you curl your toes down and tense the soles of your feet. Hold for five seconds and then release. Feel the tension flow out of your feet. Pay particular attention to how different your feet feel when relaxed as opposed to tensed. Relax for 10 seconds before moving on to your legs.^{[17]
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2
Move on to your legs. Tense and relax your legs, first one muscle group at a time, then all together. Don't forget to breathe in through your nose as you tense, and out though your mouth as you relax. Move in the following sequence:^{[18]
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- Calf muscles – Point your toes up towards your knees.
- Thighs (middle and inner) – If seated or standing, push your heels down onto the floor. If lying down, try to straighten your legs.
- Thighs (inner) – Press your knees together as if you were holding a sheet of paper between them.^{[19]
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- Buttocks – Tighten the muscles by squeezing your buttocks together.
- Entire legs – Tighten all the muscles in your legs together.
3
Relax your core. Keep your breathing even as you progress to your stomach and back. Remember to pause for 10 seconds between each cycle of tensing and relaxing.^{[20]
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- Stomach – Imagine you are trying to touch your belly button to your spine.
- Lower back – Arch your back as you tighten the muscles just above your buttocks.
4
Focus on your upper back and chest. By now, you should be feeling very relaxed. Your breathing should be slow and steady. Remember to hold the tension for 5 seconds before you relax.^{[21]
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- Chest – Take a deep breath and hold it to tense your chest.
- Upper back – Pull your shoulder blades back as if you were trying to touch them together.
Lift your shoulders up as if you were trying to touch your ears.^{[22]
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Research source} As you do so, tilt you head back slightly to increase the tension in your neck. Tension in your neck and shoulders is a frequent cause of both headaches and neck pain.^{[23]
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Research source} You may want to do two or even three cycles to make sure you completely relax your neck and shoulders.
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Work on your arms. It should be getting easier and easier to relax as your body calms down. As you relax each part of your arms in succession, remember to breathe in through your nose when tensing and out through your mouth as you relax.
- Triceps – Extend your arms and lock your elbows.^{[25]
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- Biceps – Curl your arms to flex your biceps.^{[26]
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- Forearms – Curl your hands downwards as if you were trying to reach back to touch your elbows with your fingers.^{[27]
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- Hands – Clench your fists.^{[28]
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7
Finish by relaxing the muscles of your face. People carry a lot of tension in their face, particularly in their jaw muscles. As you relax these muscles, you will complete your session. You should now be completely relaxed.
- Eyes and lips – Make a sour face: squeeze your eyes shut while pressing your lips together.^{[29]
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- Jaw – Open your mouth as wide as you can.^{[30]
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- Cheeks – Smile widely.^{[31]
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- Forehead – Raise your eyebrows as high as you can.^{[32]
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Now that you have completed the progressive muscle relaxation process, take a few minutes to simply relax. You may choose to engage in guided imagery in order to further enjoy the sense of relaxing calm. Or, if you have time, you may wish to go to sleep.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Adding Guided Imagery

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1
Use imagery to increase the benefits of progressive relaxation. Tensing and relaxing your muscles can help drive the tension from your body. You can then gain added benefits by using guided imagery to relax your mind. This practice has been shown to positively effect mood, and to reduce anxiety and fatigue.^{[33]
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- You can use imagery along with deep breathing before you start to put yourself in a relaxed state.
- Alternately, you can wait until you are relaxed and then imagine yourself in a safe, relaxing space to increase your sense of relaxation.
2
Choose your safe place. Think of a real or imagined place where you feel safe, calm, and happy. There is no "wrong" place. It is, however, best to stick with a place once you choose it, as this makes reaching a relaxed state easier.^{[34]
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Research source} Common safe places include:
- A beach
- The woods
- A mountaintop
- A sunny park
- A spot you visited on vacation
- Your favorite room in your house, past or present
3
Imagine yourself in your safe place. Feel the calmness as you imagine each detail. Use all of your senses, not just sight. For example, if your safe place were a sunny meadow, you might concentrate on:
- The colors – the green of the grass, the pure blue of the sky
- The sounds – the buzz of bees, the trill of birdsong, the whistle of the wind in the grass
- The sensations – the wind on your skin, the warm sun on your face, the grass under your arms
- Smells – the clean air with a hint of grass and wildflowers
4
Allow the calm to drive away all thought. When thoughts do arise, don't fight them. Gently return your focus to the details of the calm, relaxing space.
- If you have difficulty ridding yourself of a thought, imagine putting an image of it on a TV screen, then use a remote control to turn it off.
- You can also imagine putting the image in a drawer and closing the drawer.
You are completely relaxed, with no desire to be anywhere else, to do anything else. Your mind and body are at ease.

Expert Q&A

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Question

What can I do if I just can't relax and I start hyperventilating?

Patricia Ladis PT, CBBA
Licensed Physical Therapist
Patricia Ladis PT, CBBA is a Licensed Physical Therapist and the Founder of WiseBody Physical Therapy out of New York, NY. With over 22 years of experience, Patricia specializes in providing a collaborative and holistic approach to pain, including nerve and chronic pain, injury prevention, and prenatal/postpartum wellness. She holds a BS in Physical Therapy from New York University. Patricia is a Certified Behavioral Breathing Analyst (CBBA) and holds certifications in Kinetic Control’s Performance Matrix Assessment Screen and the Integrative Systems Model. She co-founded First 1000 Days of Wellness, an educational platform for practitioners and the public to improve perinatal wellness. Patricia has been featured in Forbes, Vogue, and Men’s Health and has made television appearances on NBC and CBS.

Patricia Ladis PT, CBBA

Licensed Physical Therapist

Expert Answer

Mastering your breath control is absolutely essential. Diaphragm breathing is the absolute best way to promote muscle relaxation. If you can't control your breathing, consider doing some deep breathing exercises first before you try to jump right to the muscle relaxation.

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Question

What's the best position for progressive muscle relaxation?

Patricia Ladis PT, CBBA
Licensed Physical Therapist
Patricia Ladis PT, CBBA is a Licensed Physical Therapist and the Founder of WiseBody Physical Therapy out of New York, NY. With over 22 years of experience, Patricia specializes in providing a collaborative and holistic approach to pain, including nerve and chronic pain, injury prevention, and prenatal/postpartum wellness. She holds a BS in Physical Therapy from New York University. Patricia is a Certified Behavioral Breathing Analyst (CBBA) and holds certifications in Kinetic Control’s Performance Matrix Assessment Screen and the Integrative Systems Model. She co-founded First 1000 Days of Wellness, an educational platform for practitioners and the public to improve perinatal wellness. Patricia has been featured in Forbes, Vogue, and Men’s Health and has made television appearances on NBC and CBS.

Patricia Ladis PT, CBBA

Licensed Physical Therapist

Expert Answer

As a beginner, I recommend lying on your back. Slide a pillow or two underneath your calves and bend your knees at a roughly 90-degree angle. That's probably the best position to start.

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Question

How can I get better at calming down so I can do this?

Patricia Ladis PT, CBBA
Licensed Physical Therapist
Patricia Ladis PT, CBBA is a Licensed Physical Therapist and the Founder of WiseBody Physical Therapy out of New York, NY. With over 22 years of experience, Patricia specializes in providing a collaborative and holistic approach to pain, including nerve and chronic pain, injury prevention, and prenatal/postpartum wellness. She holds a BS in Physical Therapy from New York University. Patricia is a Certified Behavioral Breathing Analyst (CBBA) and holds certifications in Kinetic Control’s Performance Matrix Assessment Screen and the Integrative Systems Model. She co-founded First 1000 Days of Wellness, an educational platform for practitioners and the public to improve perinatal wellness. Patricia has been featured in Forbes, Vogue, and Men’s Health and has made television appearances on NBC and CBS.

Patricia Ladis PT, CBBA

Licensed Physical Therapist

Expert Answer

Meditation, self-awareness, and mindfulness are all great ways to relieve stress. If you can get in the habit of engaging in some sort of wellness activity, you'll have a much easier time cooling your nerves so that you can do progressive muscle relaxation.

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