Evoked R-States with Progressive Muscle Relaxation (Pmr)...

Evoked R-states with Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) and yoga stretching Psychology 1100 051 The present article summarizes Ghoncheh and Smith’s (2004) 5 week study of the evoked effects of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and yoga stretching on R-states. Smith’s (1999a, 1999b, 2001, 2002) Attentional Behavioral Cognitive (ABC) relaxation theory proposes 15 psychological relaxation-related states (R-States): Sleepiness, Disengagement, Physical Relaxation, Mental Quiet, Rested/Refreshed, At Ease/At Peace, Energized, Aware, Joy, Thankfulness and Love, Prayerfulness, Childlike Innocence, Awe and Wonder, Mystery, and Timeless/Boundless/Infinite. Smith’s theory (1999a, 1999b, 2001, 2002) suggests â€Å"that different approaches†¦show more content†¦Each group met once mid-week for 30 minutes and each session targeted the same 11 muscle-group combinations. Uniform scripts were presented to both groups (Smith, 1999b). For a period of 5 weeks, each group practiced a sustained focus on either tensing up and letting go (PMR) or stretching (yoga ) (as cited by Ghoncheh Smith, 2004). Ghoncheh and Smith, (2004) measured the impact of their exercise by using the Smith Relaxation States Inventory test (SRSI; Smith, 2001); a 30 item self report questionnaire measuring the 15 R-states and 3 stress states (Somatic Stress, Worry, and Negative Emotion). A 1 to 4 scale was used to rate their present feelings. Over the 5 week period participants were required to complete 12 tests; 10 before and after each session and 2 additional tests completed 3 minutes after the posttests of week 1 and 5. Findings registered the predicted results with R-states; Disengagement, Physical Relaxation, Joy, and Mental Quiet scoring higher with PMR, while yoga stretching induced contradictory effects with unpredicted R-state Physical Relaxation, scoring higher at week 1. In addition R-state findings Energized and Aware did not differ between the 2 independent variables at week 1 and week 5 (Ghoncheh Smith, 2004). Both relaxation methods show distinctnes s in evoking different R-states, supporting Smith’s (1999a, 1999b, 2001, 2002) ABC theory and prove to be inconsistent with both Benson’s (1975) and