Quick Overview: Present-moment awareness, as described in mindfulness, means maintaining attention or awareness on the present moment without making judgments. The relaxation response refers to bodily changes characterized by slower breathing, lower blood pressure, and a reduced heart rate. In plain terms, present-moment awareness describes a quality of attention; the relaxation response describes physical changes in the body. They may be discussed alongside one another, but the available definitions do not make them the same thing. Psychotherapy can include mindfulness and relaxation techniques, including meditation and breathing exercises.
Understanding the Difference
The question “How do present-moment awareness and the relaxation response differ?” can be answered directly: they refer to different descriptions.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes mindfulness as maintaining attention or awareness on the present moment without making judgments. This definition identifies present-moment awareness as a way of attending.
The same organization describes the relaxation response as a bodily state characterized by slower breathing, lower blood pressure, and a reduced heart rate. It also describes this response as the opposite of the stress response.
Keeping these definitions separate can make discussions of mindfulness practices and relaxation techniques clearer. Present-moment awareness is not defined by a particular heart rate, blood-pressure change, or breathing speed. The relaxation response is not defined as nonjudgmental attention to the present moment.
Present-Moment Awareness and Mindfulness
Mindfulness involves maintaining attention or awareness on the present moment without making judgments. The definition describes both where attention is directed—the present moment—and the nonjudgmental quality of that attention.
Meditation and mindfulness are related but are not defined as identical in the available information. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes meditation as a variety of practices focused on mind-body integration and used to calm the mind and enhance overall well-being. Some meditation practices use mental focus on breathing, a sound, a visual image, or a mantra, which is a repeated word or phrase. Some forms of meditation include mindfulness.
Programs that teach meditation or mindfulness may combine these practices with other activities. That general description does not establish what a particular program, practitioner, or psychotherapy approach will include.
What Mindfulness Defines
The available definition of mindfulness gives a specific meaning to present-moment awareness: attention or awareness of the present moment without judgment. It does not establish how any individual will experience a mindfulness practice.
NCCIH discusses research on meditation and mindfulness for several health-related topics, including stress, anxiety, depression, pain, and sleep. For those particular topics, it notes that much of the research has been preliminary or not scientifically rigorous. Because studies have examined many different meditation and mindfulness practices, and their effects can be difficult to measure, findings can also be difficult to analyze.
The Relaxation Response and Relaxation Techniques
Relaxation techniques are practices intended to help bring about the body’s relaxation response. According to NCCIH, that response is characterized by slower breathing, lower blood pressure, and a reduced heart rate.
NCCIH lists progressive relaxation, autogenic training, guided imagery, biofeedback-assisted relaxation, self-hypnosis, and breathing exercises among relaxation techniques. Progressive relaxation involves tensing different muscles and then releasing tension. Guided imagery involves picturing objects, scenes, or events associated with relaxation or calmness. Breathing exercises may involve focusing on slow, deep breaths, also called diaphragmatic breathing.
These examples identify practices discussed under the heading of relaxation techniques. They do not establish that a particular technique will bring about the relaxation response for every person or in every setting.
Why Breathing Appears in Both Discussions
Breathing can appear in descriptions of both meditation and relaxation techniques. Meditation may involve attention to breathing. Breathing exercises are also listed among relaxation techniques.
This overlap does not erase the distinction between the terms. A meditation practice may use breathing as an object of attention. A breathing exercise may be discussed as a relaxation technique. Mindfulness remains defined by present-moment awareness without judgment, while the relaxation response remains defined by bodily changes.
Mindfulness and Relaxation Within Psychotherapy
The National Institute of Mental Health states that psychotherapy can include mindfulness and relaxation techniques, including meditation and breathing exercises. This describes techniques that may be included in psychotherapy generally.
It does not establish which psychotherapy techniques will be used in a particular situation, whether mindfulness practices or relaxation techniques will be discussed, or what outcomes a person will have. Questions about the terms can help distinguish whether a conversation concerns attention, a specific practice, bodily changes, or more than one of these.
Reflection Questions for Clarifying the Terms
| Question | Source-based distinction to consider |
|---|---|
| Am I asking about attention to the present moment? | Mindfulness involves present-moment awareness without judgment. |
| Am I asking about slower breathing, lower blood pressure, or a reduced heart rate? | These are characteristics of the relaxation response. |
| Am I asking about meditation? | Meditation may involve focus on breathing, sound, an image, or a repeated phrase. |
| Am I asking about breathing exercises? | Breathing exercises are listed among relaxation techniques. |
| Am I asking about psychotherapy techniques? | Psychotherapy can include mindfulness and relaxation techniques. |
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
- How do you describe present-moment awareness in your work?
- When you use the phrase “relaxation response,” what do you mean?
- How do you distinguish meditation, mindfulness, and breathing exercises?
- Which psychotherapy techniques do you discuss when someone asks about mindfulness or relaxation?
- What can I ask during a consultation call to consider fit?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is present-moment awareness the same as the relaxation response?
No. Mindfulness involves present-moment attention or awareness without judgment. The relaxation response refers to bodily changes that include slower breathing, lower blood pressure, and a reduced heart rate.
Is meditation the same as mindfulness?
The available information does not define them as the same thing. Meditation refers to a variety of mind-body practices and may involve focus on breathing, sound, an image, or a repeated phrase. Some forms of meditation include mindfulness.
Can psychotherapy include mindfulness or relaxation techniques?
Yes. NIMH states that psychotherapy can include mindfulness and relaxation techniques, including meditation and breathing exercises. This does not indicate which techniques may be part of a particular person’s care.
Do these definitions show what will fit or happen for me?
No. The available source information does not determine personal fit or outcomes for an individual reader.
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy offers individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives. Alina Hovsoyan, LCSW, provides in-person therapy near Orem and Provo, with virtual therapy across Utah.
The practice describes scheduling a consultation call as a first step, with an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit.
Sources and Further Reading
Sources used for this article:
- National Institute of Mental Health: Psychotherapies
- nccih.nih.gov: Meditation And Mindfulness Effectiveness And Safety
- nccih.nih.gov: Relaxation Techniques What You Need To Know
A Grounded Next Step
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This article is for general education only. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or substitute for individualized mental-health care. A qualified mental-health professional can help you consider what fits your circumstances.