Relaxation Techniques

Breath Focus
What Is It? Focusing on slow, deep breathing and gently disengaging the mind from distracting thoughts and sensations
Especially Beneficial: If you have an eating disorder or tend to hold in your stomach (may help you focus on your body in healthier ways)
May Not Be Suitable: If you have health problems that make breathing difficult, such as respiratory ailments or congestive heart failure

Progressive Muscle Relaxation
What Is It? Tensing and relaxing all the muscles of the body from head to toe in a progressive sequence
Especially Beneficial: At times when your mind is racing or if you have trouble sensing and releasing tension
May Not Be Suitable: If you have an eating disorder or have had recent surgery that affects body image or if you have a condition that makes tensing the body especially uncomfortable

Mindfulness Meditation
What Is It? Breathing deeply while staying in the moment by deliberately focusing on thoughts and sensations that arise during the meditation session
Especially Beneficial: If racing thoughts make other forms of meditation difficult
May Not Be Suitable: If you find it too hard to commit the thirty to forty-five minutes suggested