RELAXATION1 1Delivered at a Seminar for staff and students, Anatomy Department, The University of Sydney, November 3, 1976.Received January, 1977.

The relaxed state, to me, is simply the state of being mentally and physically at ease. This does not necessarily mean a passive state, in a quiet place, day-dreaming. It could mean an active state where the individual is working or playing in the day-to-day environment. To achieve this relaxed state the aim is to regulate the amount of stress so it does not exceed a determined level. Above this level, stress becomes counterproductive. We aim for the level of stress that is optimal for each individual at a particular time, performing a particular task. At this level the individual may be active or passive and still be relaxed