TERMS OF USE & MEDICAL DISCLAIMER FOR RELAXATION EXERCISES
1. General Disclaimer & No Medical Advice
- Substitute for Medical Care: No relaxation exercise or technique presented on this Website should under any circumstances be considered or used as a substitute for professional medical care, diagnosis, or medical treatment.
- Pre-existing Conditions: Users suffering from physical, mental, or psychological symptoms, or those who suspect they may have a medical condition, must seek immediate medical attention and consult their personal doctor.
- Complementary Use: The recommended exercises are permitted to be used solely as complementary tools, provided there is explicit consent from the user’s treating physician, doctor or healthcare specialist.
- Severe Mental Health Disorders: Training in relaxation techniques and guided imagery is generally not recommended for individuals suffering from hallucinations, delirium, psychotic symptoms, or those who have difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality, as these exercises may induce out-of-body sensations.
- Suicidal Ideation / Depression: In cases of severe depression, panic attacks or the presence of suicidal tendencies, the user must refrain from performing the exercises and contact a mental health professional immediately.
2. General Risks & Safe Usage Instructions
- Immediate Cessation Under Strain: During the exercises, the user must never push themselves or exert excessive effort. In the event of strain, discomfort, or the appearance of general anxiety, shivering, rapid breathing (tachypnea), or excessive sweating, the exercise must be discontinued immediately.
- Panic Attacks & Anxiety: The user acknowledges that, in rare cases, relaxation may temporarily weaken psychological defenses, leading to the emergence of distressing emotions, anxiety, or even the onset of a panic attack.
- Blood Pressure Fluctuations & Fainting Risk: During deep relaxation, a drop in blood pressure may occur. It is mandatory for the user to allow sufficient adjustment time before returning to daily activities. Abruptly rising from a supine (lying down) position may induce fainting.
3. Specific Warnings per Exercise Category
A. Breathing Exercises
- Immediate Cessation Under Strain: During the exercises, the user must never push themselves or exert excessive effort. In the event of strain, discomfort, or the appearance of general anxiety, shivering, rapid breathing (tachypnea), or excessive sweating, the exercise must be discontinued immediately.
- Panic Attacks & Anxiety: The user acknowledges that, in rare cases, relaxation may temporarily weaken psychological defenses, leading to the emergence of distressing emotions, anxiety, or even the onset of a panic attack.
- Blood Pressure Fluctuations & Fainting Risk: During deep relaxation, a drop in blood pressure may occur. It is mandatory for the user to allow sufficient adjustment time before returning to daily activities. Abruptly rising from a supine (lying down) position may induce fainting.
B. Muscle Approaches & Tension Techniques
- Breathing must always be performed comfortably, without strain or difficulty, and at the user’s personal pace.
- Any dizziness constitutes a symptom of hyperventilation (breathing too deeply or too quickly) and requires an immediate break or cessation of the exercise.
- If you experiences a sensation of choking or shortness of breath, they must stop and maybe choose a different type of relaxation.
C. Guided Imagery & Visualization
- Intense Emotional Reactions: Connecting with deeper parts of the self may release hidden emotions and trigger reactions such as anger, guilt, or disappointment.
- Management of Intrusive Thoughts / Images: In the event of mildly distressing thoughts, the user is guided to blur or dissolve the image into white light. If the thoughts or the effects of colors are intensely disturbing or unpredictable, the user must immediately cancel the image and terminate the visualization.
- Loss of Goal & Daydreaming: The user must set achievable goals, as unattainable goals induce additional stress. If intense daydreaming or sensations detached from reality are observed, the use of grounding techniques is recommended (e.g., focusing on the sensation of the floor beneath the body/feet or walking barefoot).
D. Autogenic Training & Self-Awareness
- Abdominal Pathologies: Phrases and exercises relating to the generation of warmth in the abdominal area must be mandatorily omitted by individuals suffering from any inflammation in the abdominal region.
- Age Restrictions: Autogenic training is deemed unsuitable for children under the age of 5.
- Risk of Egocentrism: Excessive and persistent introspection/self-awareness may lead to tendencies of egocentrism or a loss of one’s sense of humor. It is recommended to combine self-awareness with distraction techniques (shifting attention away from oneself) to maintain balance with daily reality.
4. Limitation of Liability
The use of the information, instructions, and techniques on this Website is done at the sole risk and initiative of the user. The Website, its administrators, authors, and affiliates bear absolutely no liability (civil or criminal) for any physical, mental, material, or moral damage, side effect, or failure to achieve results that may arise directly or indirectly from the application of what is described on its pages.