Progressive Relaxation & Autogenic Training

Carolyn McManus PT MA MS

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 1, 2003)
• Original Release Date: June 1, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Carolyn McManus
• ASIN: B0000AI0OG
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,377 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Progressive Relaxation

2. Autogenic Training

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Carolyn McManus holds Master's degrees in physical therapy and psychology. She has served as a consultant and instructor in NIH-funded research examining the role of mindfulness-based wellness and other prevention strategies in the treatment of individuals with chronic pain and disease. Her book for professionals, Group Wellness Programs for Chronic Pain and Disease Management, is a popular text exploring the topic of promoting wellness. A national speaker and highly respected clinician, author and researcher in mind-body medicine, she draws from over 22 years of experience in health care to create this popular relaxation, meditation and imagery series.

Product Description

The ability to relax your body and calm you mind is necessary for health and well-being. This recording helps you discover your capacities for relaxation and inner calm.

Progressive Relaxation promotes mind-body awareness and the deep relaxation of muscles through out your body. This recording guides you to gently contract then relax different muscle groups. It concludes with awareness of your entire body resting in a state of relaxation.

Autogenic Training promotes states of deep relaxation through the mental repetition of key phrases. "My right arm feels heavy and warm" is an example of an autogenic phrase. This recording guides you to repeat several autogenic phrases to achieve relaxation and inner calm. It concludes with awareness of your entire body resting in a state of relaxation.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

98 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Relaxation CD , June 21, 2005

By	F. Hermann - See all my reviews

Like most people reading these reviews, I have a problem with stress and tension. Unfortunately, I found out through costly trial and error that most of the relaxation tapes and CDs out there aren't worth the plastic they're recorded on. A lot of them involve professional voice actors reading a script and telling you how relaxed you are and how refreshed you are going to feel when you wake up. Although the voice may sound pleasant, one still gets the sense that the person is not a real therapist and is simply reading a script. This CD is different.

With master's degrees in psychology and physical therapy, Ms. McManus is well qualified to do a CD like this. She has one of those very soothing voices, the kind that makes you want to close your eyes and take a nap. And although she may well be reading a script, she doesn't sound like it. Everything from her tone to her timing and emphasis, as well as other subtle nuances, suggests that she knows what she is doing. Both exercises are done with relaxing harp music in the background.

Track 1 is progressive relaxation. Ms. McManus guides you in tensing and relaxing different muscle groups-beginning with the arms and ending with the legs. She even has you tense your butt! The whole exercise takes about 35 minutes. I often find myself dozing off by the time she gets to my back muscles, which is good since I suffer from chronic insomnia. I have found this exercise to be a wonderful way to end the day and to drift off at night or to go back to sleep after awakening in the middle of the night. It's also a good substitute for an afternoon siesta after you've had lunch.

Track 2 is autogenic training. This method is designed to induce relaxation by suggesting that various body parts are warm and heavy. In fact, you are told to repeat phrases like, "My arms are heavy and warm." To be honest, I don't listen to this track nearly as often as I do the first because I don't find it as helpful. That's just my preference, though.

This CD is not a panacea for stress and tension. After using it daily for about two months, I still struggle with tension, especially in the jaw and neck. It has undoubtedly helped me, though, and I believe my life is a little better for it. Sixteen dollars well spent.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully soothing, March 27, 2004

By A Customer

I had been searching for a relaxation CD but was dissatisfied with the samples that I heard in various stores. Diving in with "blind faith," I decided to give this one a try. It has been very helpful for relaxation and stress management. Carolyn's voice is accompanied by the harp and it makes for a wonderful combination. I finally found what I was looking for and I would definitely recommend this CD.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How do become mellow in 30 minutes or less, October 29, 2003

By	Barbara Mindel "Very Pleased Customer" (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This CD provides a wonderful way to relax. Ms. McManus has a beautiful, calming voice and the harp music is a wonderful addition. I especially like the second track: autogenic training. I am a long-time meditator and find autogenic training to be a welcome addition to my practice. I would recommend this CD to anyone who would like a pleasant, easy way to handle stress.