Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is a simple yet effective technique designed to reduce physical tension and mental stress by bringing deep awareness to your body. It works by systematically tensing, and then consciously releasing, different muscle groups throughout your body. You intentionally tighten a specific area (like your fists or shoulders) for a brief moment, focusing intently on the feeling of tension, and then deliberately let go, noticing the distinct sensation of release and relaxation that follows. By deliberately moving through different muscle groups in this cycle of tension and release, you interrupt patterns of physical stress, become more attuned to where you hold tension, and cultivate a state of deep physical calm, which in turn helps to quiet the mind and ease anxiety.