Simple Body Progressive Relaxation Induction

Ask your client to sit comfortably with their hands resting on their thighs and both feet flat on the floor.

Introduction,

“… make yourself comfortable … and gently allow your eyelids to close … and as you sit there … with your eyes comfortably closed … I want you to think of something pleasant … maybe a peaceful … tranquil scene … and I want you to let all the muscles of your body go quite relaxed …”

The legs,

“… first … the muscles of your feet and ankles … let them relax … let them go … fully relaxed … now … the muscles of your calves … let them go … fully relaxed … allow them to relax … now … the muscles of your thighs … let them relax … let them go … fully relaxed … and already … you can feel a heaviness in your legs … your legs are beginning to feel as heavy as lead … let your legs go … as heavy as lead … let them relax completely …”

The feeling is spreading,

“… and as you do so … you are becoming drowsier and drowsier … you feel completely at peace … your mind calm and contented … you are really enjoying this very pleasant … drowsy feeling … and now … that feeling of relaxation is spreading upwards over your whole body …”

The body,

“… let your stomach muscles relax … let them go … fully relaxed … now … the muscles of your chest … your body … and your back … let them go fully relaxed … allow them to relax … and you can feel a heaviness in your body … as though your body is feeling just as heavy as lead … as if it is wanting to sink down … deeper and deeper into the chair … just let your body go … heavy as lead … let it sink comfortably into the chair … and as it does so … you are feeling drowsier and drowsier … just let yourself relax … more and more completely … you are feeling warm and comfortable … completely at peace …

Continue with suggestions as you work up through the muscle groups in the body”

Contraindications:

• Do not use if:

Your client is experiencing depression.

• Avoid the use of the phrase “heavy as lead” if your client is presenting for weight control.

• Avoid the use of the phrase “limp and slack” if your client is presenting with psychogenic impotence.

Awakening Your Client

• Remember to always remove suggestions that should not be retained, such as heaviness or numbness of the limbs.