With the reputation students in general, and art students in particular, have for a somewhat laid back attitude to life, I never expected to spend my final year at York learning how to relax! However, after two rather tense and traumatic years struggling to cram in way too much, the sudden excess of free time has come as rather a shock to the system. Lovely as it is to have both the time and the opportunity to make weekends away possible, the feelings of guilt that accompany such mini-breaks have been rather hard to deal with. | "It teaches you where you carry tension and how to get rid of those tight knots in your back and shoulders" | |
How can I possibly be doing enough work if I have the time to contemplate a trip to Edinburgh or an evening in front of the TV? Something that has helped me deal with the guilt experienced whenever I take an ‘unjustified break from the books’ are the Relaxation training sessions offered by the University Counselling services. This phrase may conjure up images of crazy chanting to the accompaniment of whale song and wind chimes (all valid relaxation techniques of course). However I soon discovered the breadth of exercises and techniques on offer. The progressive muscle relaxation may involve lying on a mat with your eyes closed and twisting both body and face into a variety of random contortions but it teaches you where you carry tension and how to get rid of those tight knots in your back and shoulders. Also be reassured that most of the exercises are carried out in low lighting and classes are restricted to groups of four or five. The only thing you may find a challenge is staying awake!  | | One of the more traditional relaxation techniques |
If this doesn't appeal, there are alternative activities on offer. The most useful for my particular issues was specifically designed to deal with anxiety and involved learning to recognise when the panicky feelings begin to build up. The first response to this is to say to yourself 'STOP' (out loud if possible, though this is not recommended in public places). You then hold your breath before slowly exhaling and repeat this process a number of times whilst relaxing first shoulders and hands, then forehead and jaw etc. This can provide an extremely helpful control mechanism if, for instance, you find yourself confronted by what seems an impossible exam paper and are thinking longingly of cliff faces or fast moving buses. Beginning to establish a new, somewhat calmer, self I’m trying to take control by focusing on the present. Drawing up a list of tasks that can be managed and completed today, I accept that the future with all the issues of careers and money etc will have to be confronted and cannot be ignored, but what matters for the moment is the here and now. My main challenge for today therefore, is using up some of the produce from the Organic Fruit and Veg Box we’ve signed up for. Yesterday’s ‘Carrot and Ginger’ soup doesn’t appear to have resulted in food poisoning yet, so perhaps it’s time I attempted the recipe for Easy Chocolate and Banana Cake. Of course being described as ‘easy’ means that if anything goes wrong it’s all the more disheartening and what if it burns or I forget the baking powder… Perhaps I’d better begin proceedings with a little deep breathing! Veronica | 
