What kind of relaxation techniques are used to improve sleep?
Relaxation techniques aim to help reduce physical tension and stop you thinking about things that will make it difficult for you to sleep. The goal is to achieve mental and physical peace and tranquility. The most common of these is progressive muscle relaxation, which is also often called the Jacobson method. This is where you are taught to gradually tense and relax the muscles in each part of your body, either in a class or using an audio recording. Autogenic training (AT) is commonly used too. The aim of this technique, which can be learnt in a class, is a kind of “self-hypnosis”. It involves focusing awareness on different parts of the body and relaxing them. As people become more advanced, the idea is that they will be able to influence involuntary body functions such as their heart beat and breathing. It is believed that reaching deep physical relaxation in this way will relieve stress and negative feelings. Another type of treatment is biofeedback, where you learn about your bod
