IRD 2026 Virtual Conference Programme
Welcome to our International Relaxation Day annual conference programme
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
IRD Conference Day 1 – 14th August, 2026
The video above is a 9 minute introduction to International Relaxation Day and the conference. It ends with a 10 minute nature based sound of birds relaxation section.
Welcome to the International Relaxation Day Conference 2026. The conference theme this year is Relaxation for All: Skills for Health and Wellbeing in Daily Life. The webinars and papers are for the public and health professional with an interest in relaxation techniques and methods. This year the presentations cover a range of topics including and beyond the standard relaxation techniques such as Nature-based relaxation, Green Therapy and animal companions. Day 2 starts with a Symposium focusing on Nature-based interventions. To learn more about our speakers, please visit the Conference Speakers webpage.
Notice: Times in the programme are in BST and the local time of the speaker(s).
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Self-Coaching for Calm: The CALM Process to tackle stress & relax. With Prof Stephen Palmer (UK) & Dr Siobhain O’Riordan (UK).
Date/Time: 14th August, 13:15 BST to 14:00 BST
Register HERE
In this webinar, Professor Stephen Palmer and Dr Siobhain O’Riordan will start by looking at the Psychobiology of the Relaxation and Stress Response and how long-term chronic stress can increase the risk of illness and diseases. They will highlight how self-coaching can support calm and wellbeing and will introduce the CALM Process: Clarify, Appraise, Look again, Mobilise. They will show how you can develop a Personal CALM plan. Then they will provide an overview to some relaxation techniques to aid calm. There will be a Q&A session and then a short break leading the Relaxation Club. Attendees can remain in the session for the Relaxation Club to commence.
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Relaxation Club with Prof Stephen Palmer (UK) & Dr Siobhain O’Riordan. (UK)
14th August, 14:15 BST to 15:00 BST
Register HERE
Join our relaxation club and have a go at a number of the relaxation techniques that Prof Stephen Palmer and Dr Siobhain O’Riordan discussed in the previous session. Stephen and Siobhain will facilitate the meeting.
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Conference Relaxation Break from 15:00 BST to 15:30 BST
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Can pets and animal companions reduce stress and enhance relaxation and wellbeing? With Prof Stephen Palmer (UK) & Dr Siobhain O’Riordan (UK)
14th August, 15:30 BST to 16:15 BST
Register HERE
In this paper key pet and animal companion research and the impact upon human health and wellbeing will be discussed. We will consider hospital evidence relating to anxiety and cardiopulmonary stress.
Companion animals are often seen as emotional support and older adults can improve quality of life and connection. For animal assisted coaches and therapists the practical implications for enhancing relaxation and wellbeing will be considered. How can we tip the balance between the Stress Response and the Relaxation Response will be highlighted.
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Meditation Club with Nikki Ayles (UK)
14th August, 16:30 BST to 17:15 BST
Register HERE
Nikki Ayles will start the ‘Meditation Club’ with a short presentation on meditation and then run a meditation session.
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IRD Conference Day 2 – 15th August, 2026
Conference Symposium: Nature Based Interventions to enhance Relaxation and Wellbeing
This year Day 2 of the International Relaxation Day 2026 Conference starts on the 15th August with a conference symposium focusing on Nature-Based Interventions (NBIs) to enhance relaxation, calmness and wellbeing with speakers Dr Yumna Ali, Prof Stephen Palmer and Ruby Sweeney Spitzeck.
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Nature-Based Relaxation: Using the natural world to reduce stress, enhance relaxation and restore wellbeing with Professor Stephen Palmer PhD (UK). Start: 10:00 BST to 10:30 BST.
Nature-based relaxation is the intentional use of natural settings, natural elements or representations of nature to support reduced arousal and subjective calm. It can involve direct nature, indoor nature, natural sounds, imagery, photographs, window views or virtual nature. The emphasis is relaxation, not performance, exercise targets or wilderness challenges! In this presentation Prof Stephen Palmer explains why natural environments can reduce threat monitoring, support feelings of safety and enhance wellbeing and relaxation. The REST in Nature model which is a simple psychoeducational framework that integrates evidence-informed relaxation and nature-engagement principles will be discussed. There will be an opportunity for a live practice session using a short Nature Pause or Reset. The presentation finishes by considering Relaxation for All.
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Green Therapy for Relaxation in Northern South Asia with Dr. Yumna Ali, PhD (Pakistan).
Start: 10:45 BST to 11:15 BST. Start: 14:45 PKT (Pakistan Standard Time)
Green Therapy for Relaxation in Northern South Asia explored mental health practitioners’ views of Nature-Based Interventions (NBIs) in the Hazara Division of Northern Pakistan. Clinicians viewed NBIs as affordable, culturally acceptable, and valuable complements to conventional mental healthcare, highlighting benefits such as reduced stress, improved mood, stronger social connections, and increased resilience. Hazara’s forests, mountains, rivers, and agricultural landscapes were identified as important therapeutic resources that could support community mental health services. However, barriers including stigma, low motivation, transportation difficulties, safety concerns, limited awareness, and cultural considerations were also identified. The findings suggest that, with appropriate training, risk management, and culturally sensitive programme design, NBIs could provide an innovative and sustainable approach to enhancing mental well-being in Northern Pakistan. Furthermore, the region’s therapeutic landscapes may benefit not only local communities but also domestic and international tourists seeking restorative and nature-based experiences that support relaxation and psychological well-being. NB. Video can be viewed on YouTube and comments can be left when the premiere is shown live at 10:45 BST.
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Lean into Trees with Ruby Sweeney Spitzeck (Australia).
Start: 11:20 BST to 11:30 BST. Start: 20:20 AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time).
Lean into Trees is a worldwide project set up by Adrian Barker aimed at encouraging people to literally connect with trees. It’s about mental health, somatic experience and also environmental awareness. It’s about tapping into trees as support in a 2 minute meditation process. We have some innovative ways to promote the idea and thank the International Relaxation Day organizers for the opportunity to participate!
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Conference Relaxation Break from 11:30 BST to 12:00 BST
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Day 2 Conference Presentations
Keeping calm when parenting gets hard: Brain-informed tools for regulation and connection with Dr Gisele Dias (UK) & Dr Liory Fern-Pollak (UK). Start: 12:00 BST.
This presentation will look at brain-informed tools and techniques to assist in remaining calm under pressure as a parent.
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Mindfulness- a gateway to relaxation with Dr Karen E. Neil (UK). Start: 12:45 BST
Mindfulness is often thought of as a relaxation technique. Paradoxically, this risks becoming a barrier to longer term change in strengthening our ability to relax. This presentation will explore how mindfulness supports relaxation, the mechanisms that underpin this process, and why making the distinction matters. Brief, guided practices will be offered together with practical ideas to develop these skills in everyday life.
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Finding Calm in Uncertainty: Relaxation Skills After Cancer Diagnosis and Surgery with Dr. Qing Wang (China).
Starts 13:30 BST to 13:50 BST. Start: 20:30 CST (China Standard Time).
A cancer diagnosis and surgery can affect much more than the body. Many people experience uncertainty, fear, tension, sleep difficulties, and a sense that their body or future is no longer fully under their control. This presentation introduces simple, evidence-informed relaxation techniques that may help people manage stress and anxiety, reconnect with their bodies, and develop small moments of calm during treatment and recovery. These techniques come from the researcher’s personal experience and professional psychological self-care.
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Relax and Recharge Through Mindfulness with Liz Hall (Spain).
Starts: 14:00 BST to 14:30 BST. Start: 15:00 CEST (Central European Summer Time).
In this session, we will explore briefly what mindfulness is and how practising mindfulness individually and relationally can promote relaxation and wellbeing. The facilitator will offer guided mindful relaxation practice. Video can be viewed on YouTube and comments can be left when the premiere is shown live at 14:00 BST.
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From Rhythm to Calm: A Body-Based Practice for Nervous System Regulation with Marcela Almeida Alves (Portugal) & Gaspar Tytelman (Argentina):
Start: 14:30 BST. Start: 10:30 ART (Argentina Time). Start: 14:30 WEST (Western European Summer Time).
Relaxation is not something we force—it emerges when the nervous system experiences safety and balance. In this experiential session, psychologist Marcela Almeida Alves from Portugal and rhythmic movement educator Gaspar Tytelman from Argentina will guide participants through a simple body-based practice that integrates coordinated movement, breathing, and attention. Grounded in current understanding of nervous system regulation, this rhythmic approach offers a practical and accessible way to reduce tension, enhance self-regulation, and cultivate a greater sense of calm and wellbeing. Participants will leave with a technique they can easily integrate into everyday life. (NB. This session is in Spanish with English sub-titles.)
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