Many people with chronic illness have found that doing relaxation or imagery exercises has helped them cope with pain and stress. 

Take the time to learn helpful relaxation skills, such as the ones below, and practice them when you can. You can also take a class, find videos on YouTube, buy a app, or find other exercises online. 

Getting Started 

For each exercise, find a quiet place where you can rest undisturbed. Let others know you need time for yourself. Make the setting peaceful for you. For example, dim the lights and find a comfortable chair or couch, and begin to draw your attention to your breathing. 

You may find that your mind wanders, which is normal. When you notice yourself thinking of something else, without judgment gently direct your attention back to your body. Be sure to maintain your deep breathing. 

Some people like to listen to slow, familiar music while they practice these exercises. 

Breathing and Muscle Tensing 

• Get into a comfortable position where you can relax your muscles. Close your eyes and clear your mind of distractions. You can sit up or lie down. If you’re lying down, you may want to put a small pillow under your neck and knees. 
• Breathe deeply, at a slow and relaxing pace. Concentrate on breathing deeply and slowly, raising your belly with each breath, rather than just your chest. 
• Next, go through each of your major muscle groups, tensing (squeezing) them for a few seconds and then letting go. Start at the top of your head and work your way down. Tense and relax your face and jaws, then shoulders and arms. 
• Continue tensing and relaxing each muscle group as you go down (chest, lower back, buttocks, legs), ending with your feet. Focus completely on releasing all the tension from your muscles and notice the differences you feel when they are relaxed. 
• When you are done, focus on the pleasant feeling of relaxation for as long as you like. 

Slow Rhythmic Breathing 

• Stare at an object or shut your eyes and think of a peaceful scene. Take a slow, deep breath. 
• As you breathe in, tense your muscles. As you breathe out, relax your muscles, and feel the tension leaving. 
• Remain relaxed and begin breathing slowly and comfortably, taking about 9 to 12 breaths a minute. To maintain a slow, even rhythm, you can silently say to yourself, “In, one, two. Out, one, two.” 
• If you ever feel out of breath, take a deep breath, and continue the slow breathing. 
• Each time you breathe out, feel yourself relaxing and going limp. Continue the slow, rhythmic breathing for up to 10 minutes. 
• To end the session, count silently and slowly from one to three. Open your eyes. Say to yourself, “I feel alert and relaxed.” Begin moving slowly. 

If any physical conditions may keep you from comfortably and safely tensing and relaxing muscles, focusing on your breathing will still offer many benefits of relaxation. If you are not sure if these exercises will work for you, consult with your provider or a member of your Care Team. 

Imagery 

Imagery usually works best with your eyes closed. To begin, find a comfortable position, close or soften the focus of your eyes, and create an image in your mind. For example, you may want to think of a place or activity that made you happy in the past. Explore this place or activity. Notice how calm you feel. 

If you have severe pain, you may imagine yourself as a person without pain. In your image, cut the wires that send pain signals from one part of your body to another. Or you may want to imagine a ball of healing energy.  

Others have found the following exercise to be helpful. 

• Close your eyes and breathe slowly. As you breathe in, say silently and slowly to yourself, “In, one, two,” and as you breathe out, say “Out, one, two.” Do this for a few minutes. 
• Imagine a ball of healing energy forming in your lungs or on your chest. Imagine it forming and taking shape. 
• When you’re ready, imagine that the air you breathe in blows this ball of energy to the area where you feel pain. Once there, the ball heals and relaxes you. You may imagine that the ball gets bigger and bigger as it takes away more of your discomfort. 
• As you breathe out, imagine the air blowing the ball away from your body. As it floats away, all of your pain goes with it. 
• Repeat the last two steps each time you breathe in and out. 

To end the imagery, count slowly to three, breathe in deeply, open your eyes, and say silently to yourself, “I feel alert and relaxed.” 

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Source: National Cancer Institute