There are many benefits to knowing some good relaxation techniques. Some people develop sleep disturbances in reaction to stress, and relaxation skills can come in handy if this is the case.
One problem with being alert is that it causes a small amount of tension in your muscles. Your body is attempting to shield its vital organs, and a tensed muscle is stronger against blows than a relaxed one. Tense neck muscles are, however, problematic when playing many instruments, as is the reduced range of movements induced by our survival instinct.
You can learn a variety of relaxation techniques to regulate your bodys activity level and find a suitable balance between relaxation and tension. You should not aim for complete relaxation before a performance, but an ideal level of activity.
There are many methods of relaxation. Some of the most typical are those that involve thinking yourself into a relaxed state by, for example, imagining feelings of warmth or heaviness in your limbs.
