The importance of relaxation

Today (August 15^th) marks International Relaxation Day – so we asked the parents in our peer support group, as well as our staff, to share with us some pictures of them relaxing. We’ve posted a selection of the photos over on our social media pages, so do check them out!

We also wanted to use the opportunity to explore the topic of relaxation here on the blog. That’s because we know parents experiencing CPA are sadly likely to feel stressed, overwhelmed and have little time for themselves, on top of feeling the normal so-called ‘parent guilt’ associated with relaxing or enjoying hobbies once you’ve had children.

And we also know that professionals working with these families – whether it’s our own PEGS staff or the social workers, doctors and nurses, teachers, charity leads or any other professionals whose work relates to CPA – may need to take a moment or two out of their busy schedule too!

What is Relaxation Day?

Relaxation Day was founded in the USA in 1985 and was actually the idea of a nine-year-old boy from Michigan! The premise is taking time out of the day to relax, or even learning a new relaxation technique. It’s gained popularity over the years and, with widespread use of the internet these days, it’s now a globally-recognised awareness day.

Relaxation Techniques

There are many different types of relaxation techniques, with some of the most popular being yoga, meditation and mindfulness. In fact, there are so many it would be impossible to cover all of them here. But what’s clear is that, if you find one which works for you, it can be incredibly useful for your mental health and emotional wellbeing, as well as your physical health too.

Put simply, the ‘stress response’ when hormones are released because you’re experiencing a stressful situation raises your blood pressure and your heart rate. Relaxation techniques do the exact opposite, as well as reducing tension in your muscles, releasing chemicals that reduce pain (which can help for those with chronic pain), and even supporting positive digestion.

If you’re looking for inspiration for new techniques, then the International Relaxation Day website has a wealth of resources.

Other good sources of information are Health Guide, Mind, and the NHS.

Other ways to relax

The good news is you don’t necessarily have to roll out the yoga mat or spend hours each day practising deep breathing – most techniques can be mastered with regular practice of just a few minutes each day.

There are also lots of other activities and hobbies which can be a go-to to help you relax. Here are some of the top ideas our PEGS parents and staff came up with:

Reading
Gardening
Walking the dog
Cuddling the cat
Cross-stitch
Painting
Spending time in nature
Taking a stroll
Watching the sun rise or set

If you’d like to check out the pictures, head to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or X!

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Founding Director, Michelle, has been awarded an MBE in the Kings Birthday Honours for Family Support and Advocacy.

By PEGS Admin • June 15, 2026

Child to Parent Abuse organisation founder awarded MBE The founder of a social enterprise which has supported thousands of parents impacted by abusive behaviours from their children has been awarded an MBE. Michelle John, originally from Pembrokeshire in Wales but now based in Shropshire, was among the names announced for the prestigious accolade in the King’s Birthday Honours List this year. In 2020, Michelle set up not-for-profit organisation PEGS with the aim of supporting parents and carers, training professionals, influencing local and national policy, and raising awareness of Child to Parent Abuse – which is thought to affect up to one in ten households in the UK. Since then, she has grown a team of experts who have trained police, social workers, teachers and many other professionals to better recognise the signs of CPA, support parents, and signpost to specialist organisations. In addition, Michelle set up a range of parent-focused initiatives including daily practitioner-led online sessions, a Facebook peer support group which now has 3,300 members, and one-to-one offerings for those at highest risk. PEGS launched a CPA Covenant for employers in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, only the fourth such covenant to be backed by the Government, and Michelle has advised everyone from the Home Office to Channel 4 and the BBC on CPA – the latter for storyline on Hollyoaks and EastEnders. Her work has seen CPA covered by journalists across television news programmes, national newspapers and magazine, and regional press and radio, and she’s received numerous awards both in the UK and internationally. Michelle, whose MBE was awarded for Family Support and Advocacy, said: “This honour is also shared with the parents who have trusted me along the way: they drive me, inspire me and I will always stand with them. “I feel proud, privileged and very grateful – and I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me and PEGS along the way. There is much more to come for PEGS, and we will continue to work every day for the parents and carers who have been or continue to be impacted by CPA. “There is so much to reflect on from the journey of the last six years, and there have been many highlights and challenges along the way. I am sure there will be many more in the future – although being told I’d received an MBE will always remain a truly incredible moment that I’ll remember forever!” For more information about us, visit www.pegsupport.co.uk or search for 'PEGS' on social media!