Discover how guided imagery can activate the relaxation response, reduce anxiety, and improve health. Learn about the benefits of visualizing peaceful scenes, including stress reduction and improved mood. Explore the impact of guided imagery on brain waves, leading to deep relaxation and enhanced focus. Engage in calming visualizations to trigger the body's relaxation response and experience physiological changes for increased calmness.
Guided imagery triggers relaxation response by imagining safe locations, reducing anxiety and pain.
Engaging in guided imagery shifts brain waves to alpha state, enhancing relaxation and improving focus.
Deep dives
The Power of Guided Imagery for Relaxation
Guided imagery has been shown to activate the relaxation response by allowing individuals to imagine peaceful locations, triggering a cascade of chemical changes in the body. Research indicates that imagining serene environments can ease anxiety, reduce pain, and bring about a sense of calm. By engaging in guided imagery, individuals can shift brain waves from beta to alpha, indicating a state of deep relaxation. This practice has also been linked to improved concentration, reduced stress hormone levels, and control over conditions like asthma.
Harnessing Imagination for Relaxation
Engaging the imagination through guided imagery can lead to significant physiological changes and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Created scenarios trigger brain responses that enhance relaxation, benefiting both mind and body. Studies have shown that the vividness of imagined scenarios influences physiological responses, such as pupil dilation in response to imagined brightness. By incorporating guided imagery for just 15 minutes a day, individuals can experience relaxation, improved focus, and potential creative benefits.
Sit back, leave behind the cares of the day and take a sonic journey with Dr Michael Mosley. In this new podcast series, designed to help you let go and unwind, each episode focuses on a scientifically-proven technique for activating the body’s built-in relaxation response, and takes a deep dive to explore what’s happening inside as we find stillness and calm.
If you imagine yourself somewhere safe and relaxing, using something called Guided Imagery, you can activate the body’s relaxation response. Plus brainwaves, pupils and thought-birds.
Guest: Katarzyna Zemla, PhD candidate SWPS / PJATK universities in Warsaw.
Series Producer, sound design and mix engineer: Richard Ward
Researcher: William Hornbrook
Editor: Zoë Heron
Specially composed music by Richard Atkinson (Mcasso)
A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Sounds / BBC Radio 4.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode