Proper Relaxation

When the body and the mind are constantly overworked, their natural efficiency diminishes. Although rest and relaxation are the nature’s way of recharging, modern social life, food, and work make it difficult for people to rest and relax. Some types of entertainment are rather stimulating than relaxing. It makes the nerves rigid and awake. After fun time is gone, exhaustion gets in. The average person expends a lot of physical and mental energy through tension, consciously or unconsciously, and cannot truly rest. Sleeping become difficult. Some resorts to sleeping pills. These pills suppress the nerves and produce the side effects.

It may be remembered that in the course of one day, our body usually produces all the substances and energy necessary for the next day. But it often happens that all these substances and energy may be consumed within a few minutes by bad moods, anger, injury, or intense irritation. The process of eruption and repression of violent emotions often grows into a regular habit. The result is disastrous for the body, the mind, and also the relationship.

Yogic complete relaxation tranquils the body, mind, and soul. During a yogic complete relaxation, there is little or no energy, or prana, being consumed. A little is kept in circulation to maintain the body in normal condition, while the remaining portion is stored and conserved. The relaxation technique that I would like to mention here is Savasana or “corpse pose” which is basic yet effective and with no harm. As the name implies, the heart of corpse pose is to imitate a state of dead body. The total body weight is rest on the mat, all muscles are totally relaxed without any attempt to control, the mind is detached from all emotions and thoughts, and concentrates on the breath (not sleeping). It is Savasana that efficiently counteract worry and fatigue and ensures complete relaxation and perfect ease. Words cannot describe this feeling. One needs to practice and experience by oneself.

Relaxation is also very important factor in muscular exercises. It is necessary to relax the body after finishing one asana before moving to the next one. During intense muscular activity, the metabolism is increased. Metabolism is the Anabolic and Catabolic changes that take place in the body. During metabolism all the muscular tissues are supplies with fresh oxygenated blood or plasma through capillary oozing and carbon dioxide is taken back through the veins to the right auricles of the heart. This is termed “tissue respiration”. Just as interchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place in the lungs, also interchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen takes place in the tissues. Muscles that are put under severe strain demand relaxation and rest. They will recover as oxygen is used to break down lactic acid into water and carbon dioxide. This is the reason why there is no exhaustion and a person feels revitalized after yoga session.