04/01/2018
I often notice most of us have a hard time relaxing. We equate it to plopping on the couch, watching TV, maybe smoking or browsing on our phones through endless whatsapp forwards and messages.
But true relaxation, in the yogic parlance, means learning to switch off completely from the external world and redirecting all that outward flowing energy through our senses back into the body via our awareness and breath.
If one digs deeper into the concept of relaxation, it is really the basis of all productive activity.
Think about it – A good night’s sleep before an important exam or presentation, a hearty laugh before a tense moment, a calm stroll before a troubleshooting session or the “breathe” instruction from the doc before someone is about to push out a tiny being onto the planet 😊
Traditional Hatha Yoga applies this very rule of switching between tension and relaxation to achieve a better, well rounded state of body/mind. Shavasana/ Co**se pose used intermittently throughout the Yoga practice teaches us this precious technique and re-wires our brains to switch to “Relax” mode as soon as an intense effort is released from our end.
Any exercise or workout regime, that tells you to keep your heart rate up constantly, has no real understanding of this simple yet profound principle. No insight as to how to balance the sympathetic nervous system vis-à-vis the parasympathetic. Or as to why it is essential to learn to switch from the aggressive “flight or fight” mode to “rest & relax” in a constantly buzzing, chaotic world.
Number of times things fall into place when one puts in the best effort and learns how to let go….To a large extent, maybe this is what Krishna meant when he said to Arjuna “Perform your action, let go of the results”. This cardinal principle can be applicable on so many levels …physical, emotional, spiritual….it is unbelievable! 💕😁
And the best part about Shavasana …it can be a practice unto itself….just 10 min of conscious relaxation will transform…
Ultimately all life is a process of learning to let go ….so….Relax…..:-)
surrender