Wellness & Lifestyle

Train Your Relaxation Reflex

Posted on by HiDow International
Train Your Relaxation Reflex
15
Aug

How often do you find yourself struggling to switch off after a long day? With National Relaxation Day just around the corner, it’s crucial to understand how to train your relaxation reflex to combat stress and promote well-being.

In this article, we will dive into practical strategies that empower you to harness the power of relaxation in your daily routine. By the end, you’ll have actionable tools to create a serene environment, making relaxation an attainable goal rather than an elusive dream.

Forget the Bubble Bath

Most people don’t need another reminder to “take a bubble bath” or “light a candle.” They need their nervous system to stop firing like it’s fourth quarter with two minutes left.

That’s where real self-care starts: not with a checklist, but with your body’s ability to downshift out of fight-or-flight and into a state where rest, repair, and recovery can actually happen.

This National Relaxation Day (August 15), skip the spa-day fluff and learn how to train your body to relax on command—using tools designed for your nervous system, not just your mood board.

What Relaxation Actually Is (and Isn’t)

The science behind the calm

Relaxation isn’t a mindset—it’s a physiological state. And if your nervous system doesn’t know how to enter that state, it won’t matter how many candles you light or mantras you repeat.

What Relaxation Actually Is (and Isn’t)

The autonomic nervous system controls your stress and relaxation responses. The sympathetic branch revs you up (“fight or flight”), while the parasympathetic branch calms you down (“rest and digest”). Training your parasympathetic system is the key to real stress relief.

It’s not always easy to access, especially if you’re wired, tired, or burnt out. But the good news is, physical inputs—like gentle movement, breathwork, and electrical stimulation—can help guide your body into that calmer state more effectively than willpower or apps alone.

A Relaxation Ritual That Actually Works

Body-first, science-backed, and 100% realistic

Here’s a smarter 15–30 minute routine that helps reset your nervous system without the fluff.

Step 1: Set the Mood

Yes, sensory inputs matter. Dim the lights. Put on calming music. Light something that smells like not-your-laundry-room. These cues help signal safety to your brain.
But don’t stop there. This isn’t about ambiance—it’s about building the conditions where your nervous system can let its guard down.

Step 2: Use TENS/EMS on Low

A 15-minute HiDow session in low-frequency TENS mode can do more than ease muscle tension—it can actively help reduce sympathetic nervous system activity. That means fewer stress hormones, slower heart rate, and a greater sense of calm.

In one study, low-frequency TENS was shown to activate the parasympathetic system and reduce cortisol levels in participants experiencing physical stress (Choi et al., 2020).
Focus on sore areas where you carry tension—neck, traps, shoulders, low back—and let the pulsing pattern help retrain your body’s stress reflex into a relaxation response.
→ Try it with the Pro Touch

A Relaxation Ritual That Actually Works

Step 3: Stretch, Move, Breathe

Gentle movement helps move lymph, loosen fascia, and stimulate vagal tone (that’s the parasympathetic nerve highway running from brain to belly). Keep it light:

  • 5–10 minutes of yoga, mobility, or rolling out
  • 5 slow, deep breaths for every movement
  • Finish with a 1–2 minute HiDow session on any areas still holding tension

You’re not “working out.” You’re working in—teaching your body that movement doesn’t have to equal stress.

Step 4: Take a Warm Shower or Bath

Heat therapy relaxes muscles and improves blood flow—but it also promotes dopamine release and reduces cortisol.

Add epsom salts (for magnesium) or essential oils (lavender, eucalyptus) to calm both body and brain.

Follow with a short HiDow session or quiet stretch to lock in the effects. You’ll feel the shift: heart rate slows, breath deepens, jaw unclenches.

And whatever you do—don’t take a bath with your TENS/EMS device.
(We’re here for nervous system recovery, not electrical experimentation.)

The Nighttime Ritual That Seals the Deal

How to help your nervous system shift into sleep mode

The most overlooked relaxation ritual? A consistent nighttime routine. Your nervous system loves predictability.

Try this simple 3-step flow:

  • No screens 30 minutes before bed
  • A final HiDow session on traps or low back
  • Breath-focused stretch or body scan in bed

The goal isn’t to fall asleep instantly—it’s to train your system to slow down on cue. Like a reflex. Like recovery. Like something you can get better at.

Rethink What It Means to Relax

Calm is a skill. Not a luxury.

Relaxation isn’t soft. It’s strategic.

It’s not just about escaping stress—it’s about retraining how your body reacts to it.

And that’s where HiDow shines: not as a luxury, but as a tool. One that helps rewire your nervous system from always-on to “I’ve got this.”

This National Relaxation Day, forget the passive self-care rituals that never stick. Try something smarter. Something science-backed. Something your nervous system can actually respond to.
→ Shop TENS/EMS Devices

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