Europe’s first competitive relaxing event is coming to London this weekend

The first of its kind in Europe, it will feature 30 stressed-out contestants going head-to-head at relaxing against the clock
Sleep solves everything
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While we all love London, there is no doubt that it can sometimes be a stressful place to live.

Whether it’s the brutal cost-of-living crisis, the immediate sensory overload the minute you step out of the house, or the seemingly endless grey clouds, it’s enough to test the resilience of even the most zen among us.

A study from last year commissioned by Arctic Coffee revealed that over a third of Londoners are worried they are heading towards burnout.

With that in mind, adding another task to your never-ending to-do list might not sound appealing – unless that task was to forcibly relax.

That’s right – the Extreme Relaxing UK Championships is landing in London this Sunday, August 20, at Kennington’s iconic Kia Oval. The first of its kind in Europe, it will feature 30 stressed-out contestants going head-to-head at relaxing against the clock.

Over three rounds, competitors will face a series of stressful obstacles and be measured on the speed at which they can slow their heart rate to a relaxed state following the surprise. The person with the least change from their relaxed baseline will be crowned the ultimate relaxer.

It might all sound a bit silly, but there is science to back it up.

The event has been pioneered by leading sport psychologist and senior lecturer in sport and exercise psychology at Loughborough University, Dr Jamie Barker, and is a product of years of his research around relaxation.

“There are times when being able to relax is vital. In today’s society, where life and work are busy, most people have neglected the skill of relaxation to help them to deal with ‘life’ stress,” he says.

“The ability to relax and stay relaxed is undoubtedly a skill which individuals can learn and develop with appropriate practice and guidance.”

And there is precedent to back it up too. While this is Europe’s first competitive relaxing event, similar events have been held in South Korea since 2014 and, post-pandemic, more relaxation-focused events and spaces have cropped up.

The event will be broadcast and hosted by sports broadcaster Seema Jaswal, who has fronted World Cup, Snooker, and Premier League coverage.

So, what are you waiting for? Ready, set… relax.

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