How can Yoga help us to Relax?

 

When we cannot relax, many people turn to other forms of relief.  Comfort foods or binge eating, addictive drugs such as nicotine, alcohol and muscle relaxants and common habits, like nail biting or finger tapping are all attempts to remove stress from the body and the mind.  Although these techniques can provide some temporary relief, many are destructive and dangerous, and can actually even increase stress levels after prolonged use.

 

Yoga relieves muscles tension and increases blood circulation.  When practicing yoga, blood will flow to all parts of the body, helping to stabilize the heart rate and lower your blood pressure.  The steady flow of increased oxygen will assist the muscles and the mind in reducing stress in the body.

 

Final Relaxation Pose, or Corpse Pose, is sometimes the most challenging pose of all.  After an active asana practice, it is very important to consciously relax the body and the mind.  Even during sleep, our minds are active, so during Final Relaxation, we can take this opportunity to slow the mind and the breath, and concentrate on each part of the body and consciously remove the tension and stress.

 

So, how do we accomplish this most overwhelming task?  How do we consciously relax our bodies and minds?  The simplest way to begin is by first creating stress in the different parts of the body, and concentrating on that tension, so you can really feel the relaxation when you release the tension.

 

Start by laying in Corpse Pose, with your palms facing up and your feet falling naturally to each side.  Begin taking slow, deep, even breaths through the nose.  Breathe into the belly.  Feel your abdomen rise and fall.

 

Now, focus on your right foot.  Raise it 2 or 3 inches above the ground, and tighten every muscle in your right foot.  Clench the toes and tighten the ankle.  Feel all the muscles in your foot tighten and tense.  Hold this position for 10 seconds or so, then drop the foot back to the floor, and resume deep breathing.  Feel the immediate, deep relaxation in your foot.  With each exhalation, let the foot sink deeper and deeper into the mat, and release any left over tension.  Now do the same with your left foot.

 

Work up through the body focusing on different areas each time.  Calves, Thighs, Hips, Pelvis, Abdomen, Chest & Heart, Hands, Arms, Shoulders, Neck, Jaw, Eyes & Lips and Finally the back of the Head.

 

Finish by breathing deeply through the nose, and slowly move the head from side to side, feeling the weight of the head and how it feels touching the mat.  Make the movements smaller and smaller until your head finds a comfortable, natural resting place in the center.

 

Finally, take several deep breaths and release and relax any parts of the body that still feel any tension.