Edmund Jacobson, an American physiologist, developed the voluntary muscle relaxation method back in 1929. He found that muscle tension increases significantly when we become restless or excited. But the reverse also applies: learning to reduce our muscle tension can make us less anxious. As a rule, we can use MPE to positively influence our wellbeing and manage pain relatively quickly.
Autogenic training
This method has also been around for ages. It was developed in the 1920s by the German psychiatrist Johannes Heinrich Schultz and involves putting yourself into a kind of trance without any outside help, for example by repeating phrases to yourself that have a calming effect. Autogenic training can make you feel calm and relaxed after practising for a few weeks.
Meditation
Meditation is a form of mental training that can help you become calmer and more relaxed inwardly – not only while you practice, but also when you face stressful situations in everyday life. There are many meditation methods, but they all require you to keep your concentration on one thing. In addition, paying attention to your breathing plays an important role.