Stress relief: ways to relax your mind and body
Stress affects your mind and your body, so the most helpful tools usually work on both: slow breathing, letting go of muscle tension, moving gently and giving your mind something calm to rest on.
These guides explain each method step by step. Start with one, practise it for a week, and add others as you like. If stress is affecting your daily life, speak to your GP.
Find a sophrologist near you if you would like to learn these with someone trained.
Articles on stress relief
Stress relief
How to relax your mind and body
Nine simple, free ways to relax your mind and body: slow breathing, short breaks, stretching, a walk outside and more. Easy to start today.
· 5 min read
Stress relief
Body scan relaxation
How to do a body scan for relaxation, from your feet to your head, in 10 minutes. Step-by-step instructions and tips for beginners.
· 3 min read
Stress relief
Progressive muscle relaxation
How to do progressive muscle relaxation: tense and release each muscle group in turn to ease physical tension. Simple steps and safety tips.
· 3 min read
Stress relief
How stress affects your body
How stress shows up in your body, from tight shoulders to poor sleep, why relaxing your body can calm your mind, and when to see a GP.
· 3 min read
Stress relief
Guided visualisation for relaxation
How to use guided visualisation to relax: picture a calm place in detail for five to ten minutes. Step-by-step script and tips.
· 3 min read
Stress relief
Gentle stretches to release tension
Six gentle stretches to release tension in your neck, shoulders and back. Easy to do at a desk or at home, with safety tips.
· 3 min read
From the guide
What it helps with
People use sophrology for stress, anxiety, sleep, exam nerves, pregnancy, pain and burnout. See what it can and cannot do, and when to see your GP.
Read the guideTechniques
The main sophrology techniques in plain English: breathing, body awareness, gentle movement, visualisation and the levels of Dynamic Relaxation.
Read the guide