Today (August 15^th) marks International Relaxation Day – so we asked the parents in our peer support group, as well as our staff, to share with us some pictures of them relaxing. We’ve posted a selection of the photos over on our social media pages, so do check them out!

We also wanted to use the opportunity to explore the topic of relaxation here on the blog. That’s because we know parents experiencing CPA are sadly likely to feel stressed, overwhelmed and have little time for themselves, on top of feeling the normal so-called ‘parent guilt’ associated with relaxing or enjoying hobbies once you’ve had children.

And we also know that professionals working with these families – whether it’s our own PEGS staff or the social workers, doctors and nurses, teachers, charity leads or any other professionals whose work relates to CPA – may need to take a moment or two out of their busy schedule too!

What is Relaxation Day?

Relaxation Day was founded in the USA in 1985 and was actually the idea of a nine-year-old boy from Michigan! The premise is taking time out of the day to relax, or even learning a new relaxation technique. It’s gained popularity over the years and, with widespread use of the internet these days, it’s now a globally-recognised awareness day.

Relaxation Techniques

There are many different types of relaxation techniques, with some of the most popular being yoga, meditation and mindfulness. In fact, there are so many it would be impossible to cover all of them here. But what’s clear is that, if you find one which works for you, it can be incredibly useful for your mental health and emotional wellbeing, as well as your physical health too.

Put simply, the ‘stress response’ when hormones are released because you’re experiencing a stressful situation raises your blood pressure and your heart rate. Relaxation techniques do the exact opposite, as well as reducing tension in your muscles, releasing chemicals that reduce pain (which can help for those with chronic pain), and even supporting positive digestion.

If you’re looking for inspiration for new techniques, then the International Relaxation Day website has a wealth of resources.

Other good sources of information are Health Guide, Mind, and the NHS.

Other ways to relax

The good news is you don’t necessarily have to roll out the yoga mat or spend hours each day practising deep breathing – most techniques can be mastered with regular practice of just a few minutes each day.

There are also lots of other activities and hobbies which can be a go-to to help you relax. Here are some of the top ideas our PEGS parents and staff came up with:

• Reading
• Gardening
• Walking the dog
• Cuddling the cat
• Cross-stitch
• Painting
• Spending time in nature
• Taking a stroll
• Watching the sun rise or set

If you’d like to check out the pictures, head to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or X!