Therapist Unplugged
A therapist-led podcast brought to you by The Montfort Group featuring Laurie Poole. Straight talk about life, relationships, and mental health. Each episode will feature the unplugged views of guests and fellow therapists as we navigate hot topics, therapy trends and the world around us.
Therapist Unplugged
Progressive Relaxation and Guided Breathing by Laurie Poole
Discover the transformative of Progressive Relaxation as Laurie Poole guides you through profound practices designed to melt away stress and rejuvenate your mind and body. By the end of this session, you'll feel refreshed and ready to integrate these calming techniques into your everyday life, ensuring a continual state of peace and serenity.
Welcome to this Progressive Relaxation Meditation narrated by myself, Laurie Poole of the Montfort Group. Progressive Relaxation offers a number of benefits, including stress reduction, impr oved sleep, enhanced focus, physical relief and improved emotional well-being. Relax as you listen to my voice and enjoy the benefits of self-care that accompanies this practice.
Laurie Poole:Begin by finding a comfortable position, either sitting or lying down. Gently close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose, filling your lungs completely.
Laurie Poole:Hold that breath for a moment and then exhale slowly through your mouth. As you continue to breathe in and out, let your shoulders drop and relax. Feel the weight of your body connecting with the surface beneath you.
Laurie Poole:No w bring your attention to your feet. Inhale deeply and, as you do, tense the muscles in your feet by pointing or flexing them. Hold the tension for a moment. Now exhale and release the tension, allowing your feet to relax completely. Move your focus up to your calves, breathe in and tense your calf muscles as you do. Hold, hold, hold. Now exhale and let go. Feel the relaxation and warmth spreading through your calves as your breath returns to normal.
Laurie Poole:Next, focus on your thighs. Inhale, tense your thigh muscles, hold, hold, hold, hold, hold and exhale. Release the tension and let the relaxation wash over your thighs
Laurie Poole:.
Laurie Poole:Continue to breathe normally as you enjoy greater and greater relaxation. Now shift your focus to your abdomen, breathe in deeply, hold the tension and exhale. Feel the tension in your stomach muscles. Hold, hold, hold and and exhale, releasing
Laurie Poole:all the tightness. Feel the relaxation. Feel the w armth wash over your stomach as you continue to feel more relaxed throughout your body.
Laurie Poole:Next, bring awareness to your chest. Breathe in, filling your chest with breath and tension. Hold, hold, hold. Feel the tightness gathering in your chest and exhale. Feel the wave of relaxation as you let go of your breath. Now, your hands, as you breathe in, clench your fists Feel the hardness and tightness as you hold, hold,. ,
Laurie Poole:Feel your hold and let go. Exhale. Release and feel that heavier- melt away. Continue to breathe and release any lingering tension that
Laurie Poole:you might feel Next, move to your arms. As you breathe in, tense your arms by squeezing them. Hold, hold, hold. Feel all that tightness and tension gathering in your arms. Hold it, hold it, hold it and exhale. Let your arms go completely.
Laurie Poole:Feel the relaxation, the warmth spreading through your, your arms, as you let go of all the tension will your arms get heavier, feel your other body parts get heavier your legs, your feet, your, your calves, your thighs.
Laurie Poole:And finally, bring your attention to your face, inhale, scrunching your facial muscles tightly Round, .
Laurie Poole:Check in all that tension gather and breathe out, letting go of all the tension in your face carried from throughout the day.
Laurie Poole:Just let it all go as you continue to breathe in and out at your own pace, to breathe. in and out at your own pace, letting go of any lingering tension that you've been holding on to feeling more and more relaxed, with greater peace spreading throughout your body, stuck in with yourself to see if there's any remaining tension or tightness in your feet, your ankles, your calves, your thighs, your
Laurie Poole:hips and buttocks, your abdomen, your chest, your arms, your hands, your neck and
Laurie Poole:face, and just continue to breathe and enjoy that continued feeling of relaxation throughout your entire.
Laurie Poole:Thank as you enjoy this state of calm, know you can return to this practice whenever you need to Use your breath to remind yourself that you can let go of tension anytime you need, simply by breathing in, holding your breath to the count of four and slowly releasing through your exhale, and, when you are ready, gently wiggle your fingers and toes, slowly bringing your awareness back to the present moment. Open your eyes when you are ready, look around you and come back to earth. Thank you for joining me in this time. It has been my pleasure to accompany you, and so it is.
