Relaxation

Relaxation Man is not only living being made of bones, flesh and blood. His unfilled desires, his joys of success, his sorrows and memories of all types remain buried in depths of his mind and it is they which contribute mostly towards the formation of his nature. Mind, it is active all the time with movements as swift as they are uncontrollable. The fleeting movement of the mind dissipates its energy. One who falls prey to the mischievous designs of mind can never stick to one’s decisions, because if one gives in once, one is lost forever. To effectively combat stress, we need to activate the body’s natural relaxation response. You can do this by practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, rhythmic exercise, and yoga. Most stress experts recommend setting aside at least 10 to 15 minutes a day for your relaxation practice. If you’d like to get even more stress relief, aim for 30 minutes to an hour. A simple meditative posture is Padmasana or sukhasana (peaceful Pose), Sit in cross legged position. Maintain an erect spine and gently draw in the abdomen. In the beginning there may be some discomfort due to the friction of the mat on the floor or the strain of keeping the body erect. Breathe in through your nose. The hand on your stomach should rise. The hand on your chest should move very little. Exhale through your mouth, pushing out as much air as you can while contracting your abdominal muscles. The hand on your stomach should move in as you exhale, but your other hand should move very little. Continue to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Try to inhale enough so that your lower abdomen rises and falls. Count slowly as you exhale. With regular practice, relaxation gives you an intimate familiarity with what tension—as well as complete relaxation—feels like in different parts of the body.