YOGIC RELAXATION
The fast moving modern life has put all our everyday activities under pressure. Yet man is hardly aware of the growing tension overpowering him and sapping his energy.
Tension imposes on us a tremendous waste of vital energy, prana. Tasks that could be performed in all peace are overburdened with anxiety, resulting in severe depletion and loss of vitality. We live in a mighty competitive world which generates apprehension and anxiety through fear of failure. Many set the bar too high, inviting additional stress. Unknowingly, this ever increasing stress is having deleterious effects on the system. The body will try its best and within limits, either to adapt or to fight back. Failing which, it will collapse under the constant pressure of stress.
Our generation has witnessed tremendous advances in technology. It is a fast moving world and we are today just an incredible ‘click’ away from anyone, anywhere – in truth, from the rest of the world. On an individual level it is not easy to keep pace with this ever changing situation. The result is stress and tension. The remedy is relaxation.
Relaxation if practiced daily will go a long way to mitigate the disastrous effects of stress. That is why the seers of yore have made relaxation the basis of yoga. Yoga postures helps the body relax and rejuvenate. As a general rule yoga favours parasympathetic activation and diminishes sympathetic arousal.
Yoga includes many different relaxation postures: sitting, standing or lying down on front, back or sideways. Yoga relaxation is by far the simplest practice to teach and it is as easy to learn. These postures facilitate relaxation not only during yoga practice, but may be used to ease tension in different situations throughout the day. Deep relaxation on a daily basis will invigorate the system, strengthen its immunity and bring about other valuable physiological changes.
Stress can cause premature ageing of the body and the brain. Memory is impaired by recurrent heavy stress. Medical research has shown several health conditions that can appear or worsen under constant stress: asthma, depression, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, allergy, gastric ulcers, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, reduced resistance to bacterial and viral infections and many others. Recent research has revealed that highly stressed persons are immunologically ten years older than their actual age.
Modern science has recognized that yogic relaxation techniques and yogic breathing are the greatest contribution of the ancient seers of India to mankind. Relaxation has been found to be effective in Alzheimer’s disease, anger, hostility and aggressive behavior, anxiety, asthma, diabetes, fibromyalgia, headaches, hypertension and heart disease, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, panic disorder, substance abuse and smoking. Relaxation techniques have been used to treat side effects of cancer therapy.
Unless the frantic trend of modern life style slows down, tension and anxiety will stay with us. Psychosomatic illness or stress diseases, emotional pressure and wrong eating are some ills of modern living that medicine has to tackle. As long as this frenetic sway prevails we can only look for ways and means to alleviate these ills. Tension creates anxiety. Relaxation dissipates anxiety. Relaxation imparts to the whole organism a feeling of sublime peace and well being.
Yogic relaxation is not a state of inertia devoid of awareness. On the contrary one has a feeling of wellness in the body. One is very alert during the process at all times. Deep yogic breathing forms an integral part of yogic relaxation. There may also be repetition of a sacred syllable such as ‘OM’. The whole system is harmonized with the increased inflow of prana. This will bring further serenity to the mind. The body is relieved of all stress and tension.
Many people have the bad habit of taking a nap during the day. It does not usually help. Instead of feeling relaxed one feels more fatigued. The body becomes sluggish. Yogic relaxation instead will bring all the benefits of increased vitality and a sense of rejuvenation. Muscles are relaxed. There is increased flexibility of the body. The complexion looks fresher. An improved appearance doubtless builds up a positive outlook.
Relaxation is an art and it is imperative that we learn this art to make ours that amazing feeling of rest and exquisite peace. Sitting, standing or lying down, one should let go a few minutes every now and then. It does pay dividends in terms of health and happiness. Whenever there is a surge of anger or increase in tension, there is nothing better to cool down than relaxation. Yogic relaxation prevents stress. The best way to control or prevent stress diseases is to adopt the daily practice of yogic relaxation. It is a must for health care irrespective of age.
Nothing compares with yogic relaxation where health and well being are concerned. It does not cost anything. One can be on one’s own. No external help is needed. When the body is so relaxed, the mind experiences absolute calmness. When there is perfect coordination between mind and body there is heightened efficiency and stability in performance. There is also decreased health risk.
During relaxation the system is given a complete overhaul, leaving a feeling of unfathomable wellness and profound peace, never experienced before. The miracle formula for everyone lies in the daily practice of relaxation, whether health wise, for vitality or for a well balanced lifestyle.