Yoga practitioners develop self observation skills even during the relaxation at the end of the yoga class. Yogic relaxation exercises are many, and vary from progressive muscle relaxation to breath awareness.
There is however a systematic relaxation of the many body parts that deeply relaxes body and brain, and can infuse the body with consciousness even at a cellular level. Where attention goes, energy follows. Disconnection from the body is one cause of illness. This conscious and felt connection with more than 100 body parts during yogic relaxation, infuses the parts with life energy, also called chi, or prana.
Researchers, from Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA) and Bangalore Institute of Oncology (BIO), tested yoga relaxation techniques on those living with breast cancer in second and third stage and found that the exercises were not only successful in fighting the side effects of the ailment, but also helped maintain immunity levels to fight the disease.
Yoga techniques include poses, breathing, hand positions, meditation, self study and relaxation. Singling out relaxation, there are at least ten yogic relaxation techniques to quiet the mind and relax muscle tension. Benefits from relaxing mind and body affect us physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. They include:
Increase ability to focusIncrease ability to communicate with othersContributes to increased energy levelsIncreased self acceptance and inner peaceIncreased resistance to anticipated stressYoga becomes therapeutic when yoga techniques are selected and modified to suit your needs. You become deeply involved as you observe and assess the effect of the practice on your body and mind. Self-observation and self assessment can or must be an ongoing practice, to keep in touch with all aspects of our being.
In a formal yoga on the mat practice, we can develop our self observation skills by paying attention to many intricate details of our physical body. "Are my shoulders stabilized?" Or on the other hand, we may find that simply being aware of and feeling whether we are maintaining length in the spine, suffice for self assessment of the physical.
Maintaining awareness of and feeling the movement of breath while we hold a pose, also develops our self-observation skills. And on a more subtle level, awareness and self assessment of how grounded we are, or how much lightness we feel is the first step to keeping us balanced energetically when in the pose.
On deeper levels, as we remain steady in the pose, we might observe and feel how much sadness our heart holds, and/or how much determination we feel. The longer we are able to hold and breathe easily in the pose, we may observe ourselves enveloped with feelings of softness, surrender or courage.
The more we are able to connect with all levels of our being, i.e. physical, energetic, mental emotional, spiritual, the more we improve the health of our immune system and foster the sense of well being. Energy follows our attention.
What steps will you take today to infuse your physical body, mind and emotions with consciousness?
And now, I'd like to invite you to claim your free download of guided relaxation and join our community when you visit http://www.yogatogo.com
From Heather Greaves - Yoga Therapist and Body Therapies Yoga Training
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