Relaxation is important to create a stress free learning environment and conditions of ideal receptivity. Relaxation is associated with a predominantly alpha brain wave pattern. It releases energy for learning. All new information enters the short term memory store, but only gets transferred to the long term memory store if it is rehearsed immediately. Registering new facts depends on strong encoding, which depends to a large extent on creating strong associations.
Strong encoding is achieved by creating concrete images of sights, feelings, sounds, tastes, smells.
Recall is essential to learning and recall if different from and less easy to achieve than recognition. Recall depends on association, linking ideas together in a pattern. Visual memory is essentially perfect. The key to memory and learning is, therefore, to improve your visualization and to form strong visual associations with new material. Interactive visual images are the most powerful.