 Re: Relaxation
ART OF RELAXATION
by Avadhutika Ananda Mitra Acarya
Watch a baby asleep on a bed. It gives up its weight entirely to the bed,
without any muscular tension Nomadic peoples all over Asia, journeying night
and day, reach an oasis or camping place and at once throw themselves on the
ground and lie there limp, apparently lifeless from head to foot. One hour
of this rest refreshes them with as much new vitality and energy as a
night's sleep for the average person. These wanderers are able to undertake
surprisingly long journeys with very little rest.
Babies and so-called primitive people have not yet forgotten the art of
relaxation, the ability to completely rest at will. This art has been
practiced by yogis since ancient times. They began their experimentation on
this state by watching animals in deep relaxation during sleep, and
especially during hibernation.
During even a few minutes of deep relaxation, there is a rapid fall in blood
pressure and pulse rate; and the strain on the heart is reduced. The
overtaxed nerve centres are revitalised and muscle tension drops even below
the basal muscular tension level. Since during deep relaxation only a very
small amount of vital energy is being consumed, the remaining energy which
is being constantly produced by the cells of the body can be conserved and
accumulated for future use.
Yoga practitioners do not need to go on vacation to relax. They can remain
seated in a room open to the traffic of a busy metropolis and can transform
themselves to the point that they hear no sounds, being relaxed and quickly
self-possessed on a chair, just as if they were in a green Swiss valley.
Translated into medical language, this capacity of voluntary sensory-_motor
inhibition is achieved through a gradual and conscious inversion of
biological current: no longer a flux from the interior to the exterior, but
a flux from the exterior to the interior
To give an example, again taken from electricity, yoga practitioners can
voluntarily put themselves in the position of a telephone or radio operator
who wants rest, and so switches off all the live contacts of his or her
sets; impulses still reach the sets, but are no longer perceived as active,
and therefore, do not disturb the operator, but are certainly there and may
be recorded. Lying thus in a state of perfect and conscious peace, yoga
practitioners can, through respiration, connect themselves with vital energy
or pranic energy. Now they are like batteries put into contact with a source
of electrical energy, whereas the average person is like a battery working
continuously, unable to recharge itself .
POISE IN ACTION
When this deep relaxation is carried over to the state of activity, the
muscular reflexes respond more rapidly to stimuli and every task can be
performed more efficiently, more effortlessly.
A cat crouches before a mouse-hole, gracefully motionless. It exhibits
tremendous strength and vitality in repose. The machinery of action is not
strained in waiting, but all is ready .. and when it darts forward, action
bursts like a flash of lighting from its stillness.
Every genius consciously or unconsciously relaxes during the process of
creation, and for this reason is so efficient in his or her art. Contrast
this poised grace to the movements of today's hurried business people, who
with their exaggerated, wasteful movements, fidget and fume, and wear
themselves out before the hour for action has arrived.
Through the regular practice of deep relaxation, yoga practitioners develop
the ability to keep their minds and bodies in perfect equilibrium in all
situations. Learning how to relax and maintain "grace and pressure" in this
age of rapid change - when high blood pressure and heart disease are the
number one killers in technological societies - is one of the most valuable
abilities of human life.
DEAD POSE
Shavasana or "Dead Pose" can be done anytime, even at times when most other
yogic postures (asanas) cannot be done, such as during sickness,
menstruation, or pregnancy. In this pose, the body remains completely
motionless and becomes recharged with vital energy or pranic energy, and the
mind's attention is gradually withdrawn from the body and surroundings to be
absorbed in a state of deep inner tranquillity. The body and mind together
attain a perfect blissful repose.
To receive the complete benefit from the practice of yogic postures
(asanas), the Dead Pose should be performed for about ten seconds to one
minute between two postures. The proper rest in Dead Pose completely calms
the body and prevents the overstraining of muscles and the over-stimulation
of the glandular, circulatory and respiratory systems. One should rest at
least until the breathing and heartbeat have become calm. Asanas and massage
should always be followed by the deep relaxation pose for at least three
minutes. Those with high blood pressure should do at least five or ten
minutes of deep relaxation daily; for as we have seen this is one of the
best treatments of hypertension.
To perform the Dead Pose lie down on your back, covering yourself with a
sheet if you feel a chill. Stretch the arms and legs gently apart and aim
the palms up; the fingers will naturally curl in. Close the eyes. Do not
move any muscle of your body, even your eyeballs. Remain as motionless as if
you were dead. Immerse your mind in the flow of your breathing, in a state
of refreshing peace.
Relax your feet and your toes .. your calves, knees and thighs .. feel
that both your legs are completely relaxed - there is no tension or pressure
anywhere. Now relax all your internal organs - your digestive system, your
lungs, your heart .. relax your back and spine .. Now feel your fingers:
relax your fingers and hands, your wrists, your lower arms and elbows, your
upper arms and shoulders, and your neck .. Now you should feel that your
entire body from the neck down is completely relaxed; there is no tension
anywhere.
Feel that flow of relaxation now moving up into your face, relaxing your
cheeks, your mouth and lips, your ears, your nose, and your eyes - feel all
the tension around your eyes completely dissolving - your forehead and head
are completely relaxed .. Feel your brain inside your skull .. your brain
is also completely relaxed. Now your whole body from the tips of your toes
to the top of your head, is completely relaxed. You feel as light as a
feather, and very comfortable.
Now be aware of your breathing. Breathe slowly and deeply, from the
diaphragm. As you inhale, imagine that you are inhaling cosmic energy into
every cell of your body; your mind and body are becoming completely
recharged Feel the energy from the cosmos flowing through you, washing
away all the tensions and negativity, cleansing you inside and out ..
Feel yourself full to overflowing with this purifying energy, radiating from
every pore of your body .. filling your whole being with joy and love ..
Remain in this position for as long as you like. Afterwards you will feel
completely refreshed in body, mind and spirit.
*** To develop the mind requires a scientific technique with a spiritual
outlook and this is what meditation will develop in you. To train the mind
development of ethics/morality is required because before moving you should
decide how you are going. Morality develops proper use of your mind and
organs and is necessary to the practice of spiritual meditation and if mind
is to go beyond layers of distortion, so that it is able to be concentrated
and focused during meditation. ***
*** More when you learn meditation ..
Meditation and Yoga is very comprehensive. Meditation and Yoga offers
something for everybody irrespective of health, age, size, flexibility, or
beliefs. Although it originated in India, Yoga is for all. It is no longer
just a spiritual tradition from India.
You would expect quite a bit from a tradition that's been around for over
7,000 years. Yoga includes physical postures to help you stay fit and
reduce your stress level, as well as increase your energy. Yoga also offers
a range of meditation practices to strengthen the mind, and breathing
techniques for calmness of your nervous system and clarity of thought.
Along with proper diet it is a very efficient system of health care, and for
restoring and maintaining health.
Meditation looks at the world and universe from a broad, holistic
perspective. This perspective appreciates the enormous influence of the
mind and your psychological attitudes in relation to all actions, thoughts
and spiritual well being. Its expansive nature and cultivation of higher
ideals and thoughts makes it ideal for all of humanity.
Yoga seeks harmony and unity at various levels. However, yoga and
meditation does not deny challenges and these are seen to be beneficial to
personal growth. First, yoga and meditation seeks to harmonise your body
and mind. Second, it seeks to unify mind and spirit or Self so that Oneness
is experienced in daily life. This ideational approach is what allows the
mind to grow and gain strength and wellbeing, not from a materialistic
perspective, but from what is deeply meaningful from an emotional and
spiritual perspective.
These aspects are explored and developed as one learns meditation for
self-development and liberation.
|
Last Thread
Next Thread
03-19-05 11:09 PM
