Relaxation for Mind, Body & Spirit
Keys to a Healthy Life
Stress is a part of modern day living. Tensions and pressures are part of getting things done; there is no getting away from it without causing another stress. Even if you choose to isolate yourself from the world you would be faced with different types of stresses and tensions.
Going with the Flow
“Nature always follows the path of least resistance”- (unknown source). If you can, imagine a river flowing freely until debris of tree branches have formed an obstacle in the middle of the river. Where does the river go? Does it stop? No, it finds the least resistant way; more than likely it will go around, creating a current, a new pathway.
If we follow nature’s lesson and learn how to become less resistant, and to flow with life’s pressures, it will lead to a healthier life. In martial arts one of the key techniques is flowing with your opponent in gracious movements. Martial arts is regarded as one of the most lethal weapons; someone with the skills can quite easily injure another.
A Step by Step Relaxation Exercise
A simple technique to begin with could be recorded and followed by your own voice, or have a friend read it out for you. After practicing it a few times you will find that your own inner voice will talk you through it.
- Lie comfortably on the floor. Make sure you are in a straight line, palms facing upwards. Cover yourself if you like as your body temperature will drop as you relax
- Feel the floor underneath you with all the parts of your body that are touching it
- Feel your breath, don’t change it, just become aware of the inhale and exhale
- Now take time to listen, don't name or judge the sounds, just hear the sounds around you, moving from one sound to another
- Bring your attention into the toes on your right foot, feel each toe with your awareness or imagination
- Then become aware of your right foot and work your way up the right leg
- Then, very slowly bring your awareness to the left toes and foot and the left leg
- Moving up to the trunk of your body become aware of the buttocks and the hips, the spinal column and the whole of the back
- Now bring your attention to your abdominal area and even your inner organs
- Feel yourself becoming more relaxed than you were before
- Bring your attention up to your chest, feel the tensions dissipating
- Become aware of your thumb and fingers on the right hand, then the palm and back of the hand
- Moving your attention up through the right arm
- Repeat with the left thumb, fingers hand and left arm
- Now become aware of your shoulder
- ndash; where we carry the burdens of the world- and then the neck
- Now bring your whole attention to your face beginning with the jaw, tongue, cheeks, the little muscles around your eyes, forehead and even your ears, and lastly the hair on your scalp.
- Notice how you feel now
- To help relax your mind, bring your attention to a place in your body where you feel the breath
- Spend the next five minutes here
- When you notice you are distracted by thoughts gently return to the breath.
- Bring your awareness back to the place where you are lying, slowly and gently wiggle fingers and toes, stretch your body out before opening eyes
- Get up very slowly
Relaxing will slow down the hectic pace of modern living and you will be able to stop and look around, take time to weigh things up, and use more of your intuitive mind when making decisions.
The River Flows
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