Loving-Kindness Soothes, Relaxes, and Is Contagious!
Arnold Shapiro, MD
July – August 2021 • Vol 3, No 116
In an earlier issue, I introduced the term, “Relaxor.” Relaxors induce the Relaxation Response the way stressors induce a Stress Response. Stressors are challenges, demands, aggravations, irritations. i.e., arousers. They gear us up and add tension. (This is the fight-or-flight response, when the sympathetic side of the autonomic —automatic—nervous system is activated.)
Relaxors are soothers, calmers, and easers. They gear us down and reduce tension. (This is when the parasympathetic side of the autonomic nervous system is invoked, triggering “rest, digest and heal” responses.) Relaxors can come in the form of soothing images, words, touch, and deeds—especially through acts of kindness. As we have covered here, yogic-type breathing that is deep, slow, smooth, and rhythmic is also a good relaxor.
