Cultivating Relaxation

With no shortage of things to do and connections to maintain these days, it seems harder and harder for us to find time to relax well.

Relaxation is defined as a state in which we are free from anxiety and tension. In physics it is equated to the return to equilibrium after being in a state of activity. It can even be a state of mind.

When relaxation comes as a result of an activity, it is considered passive relaxation. Typically we find ourselves relaxing in this passive mode, as seen through the relative ease with which we can rest after a vigorous workout. Culturally we tend to engage our relaxation in this mode of reactionary experience. When we expend our energy, nature naturally will lead us back to our balance.

If there is passive relaxation then what about active relaxation? Despite sounding like a paradox, active relaxation takes the act of relaxation to a place of conscious effort. Through a little bit of focus we can initiate our own state of peace through our intention, breath and bodily awareness, inviting relaxation into our lives in any situation. When we can cultivate a practice of active relaxation, it can give us much more present and energetically stable experiences.

For example, when we take a moment to step outside of a stressful situation and take a few deep breaths, we can calm our nerves, invite oxygen into the blood stream, grounding ourselves and calming the mind. Doing so allows us to return to the situation with more awareness, clarity and energetic “lightness” or “openness”. When we maintain an internal openness we are much more efficiently suited to perform better at our tasks and express our potentials more readily. You will see athletes center themselves (actively relaxing) before they compete to improve their performance. In a perpetual culture, balance is the key and relaxation should be emphasized in its importance.

Active relaxation shows us that we can gain more mastery of our lives through not being subjected to reacting to a situation. It is a practice and cultivation that yields greater and greater results with time. It is the Yin to Yang.

With a rise in stress related illnesses, such as heart disease, depression and gastrointestinal problems, it has become apparent that we definitely need more relaxation in general in our lives, be it active or passive. Relaxation is integral to the principles of our wellness classes. Through actively relaxing during stretching and holding certain postures, we allow our bodies to energetically open in further depth and promise leading to improved states of vitality, robustness and healing.

Here are some helpful exercises to help you relax and release stagnate energy:
1. Full body tapping. Tapping is a great way to get our blood flowing, sensitize our bodies, and release stagnation from the meridian channels. We recommend you do this with joyful music. Starting with the crown of the head gently tap the surface of your body all the way down to the soles of your feet. As you tap each part of the body make sure to breath out to release tension and help new energy flow through. Enjoy awakening and feeling your body in a new way. This exercise should take about 10 minutes to complete.

2.  Plate Balancing Exercise.   Plate Balancing exercise is a simple way to energize your whole body and create internal heat. Plate balancing involves moving your arm in a figure-eight pattern in a vertical infinity- while balancing a plate on your hand. This exercise strengthens the body’s major joints and meridians, especially the upper body and abdominal area. We recommend doing this exercise 10 times with the left and right side of the body.

3.  Vibration.  Vibration is an excellent tool to utilize active relaxation. Through gently bouncing the body up and down we can awaken our senses and release stiffness and stagnant energy from our joints and muscles. To start, play joyful music and bounce the body rhythmically, keeping your feet on the ground. With your sense of awareness “feel” your way down the whole body starting with the top of the head to the feet releasing as you focus on each individual part by breathing out.

I encourage you to remember to take the time to listen to pause, and listen to your body and cultivate a practice of relaxation inviting more peace and harmony in your day to day.