Relaxation
As one knows, there are five basic phenomena that occur when two forces pulling or pushing in opposite directions act on a body (or any physical structure for that matter). They are compression, tension, bending, shear and torsion. Each of these loads can cause damage to the body that can lead to the body’s failure or collapse. In this segment of Holistic Yoga we apply, among other things, the understanding of biomechanics to induce relaxation.
Tension holds the body contracted
Naively obeying Newton’s third law (“To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction”), the body instinctively compresses to make up for tension. But you, knowing no better, “try to relax” when under stress, adding extra tension. The body further contracts. In time, this contraction turns habitual, and you end up chronically tense even in the absence of external stressors. Holding tension takes a lot of energy and effort.
Fight or flight
Then there is this thing called the stress response. When under threat, your body instantly goes through a series of physiological and biochemical changes (the adrenaline level rises, heart rate and blood pressure go up, muscles tense, etc.)—all in order to enable you to deal with the situation (to “fight or flight,” as they say). This stress response is normal, rather natural and healthy. Afterwards you are exhausted, but getting some rest will return you to normal. The problem occurs when you are not given any breaks and the stressors are way too strong. That’s a killer.
Cell: a chemical factory
Each cell in the body is a chemical factory. If a part of the body is held tense, the flow of life energy and the blood flow are restricted into that region, and the cells not only have their supply of oxygen and nutrients cut short, but are also left with a poisonous buildup of waste products. In case of prolonged exposure to stress reactions, everything keeps contracting, the “cut off” part is inhibited into a kind of “coma,” and a bad situation goes to worse until that part of the body ceases to function. Therefore, you “must” relax!
Can’t relax by trying or doing
However, there is another law at work here, the law of reversed effort: “The more you try to fall asleep, the more you can’t.” It’s like the erection thing: Trying harder is not helping the matter either. And to make things worse, relaxation is not something that you can “do,” there is no “how.” If I tell you, “Don’t do anything, just relax,” you don’t know what to do, do you? Relaxation is not a positive action; it’s the absence of conflict and tension. Finally, we’ve got The Book of Changes law, which says, “A thing at the extreme point turns into its opposite.” Taking into account all of the above factors, in Forceful Yoga™ there are exercises in which one stretches and contracts every muscle in the body and then releases the hold and becomes relaxed. Breathing and relaxing into the posture, as well as letting go the body weight, accomplish the same thing.
Change your breathing
Then there are other things that add to the equation—breathing rhythm and pattern being one of them. You may not have noticed, but if your physical, emotional or mental state changes, your respiratory pattern and rhythm change as well. And vice versa, what’s even better. You can change your state by changing your breathing. In other words, you can’t breathe the way you do when you are calm and be angry at the same time. In Forceful Yoga™ we utilize this principle and use, for example, deep, fast, vigorous breathing without any rhythm to detoxify, charge the body with élan vital and oxygen, and release repressed emotions; slow, deep, rhythmic breathing to slow down the body and mental processes, and also to integrate, center and balance; or relaxed, uncontrolled exhaling to let go and release completely.
Reconnecting with the body
Next, “Energy flows where attention goes.” Implications? Physically relaxing the body consists of reconnecting with each part, that is, directing our attention to a body part, intending to allow that part to relax, and then experiencing the relief that comes from letting the tension go (releasing the tension that was kept there by the act of holding). The life energy follows attention, breaks up the internal holding patterns, and a natural, unobstructed energy flow to that part is reestablished. The natural, healthy functioning of the body is restored. By the way, just five to ten minutes of this relaxation serves as well as one to two hours of deep, restful sleep.
Relaxation brings us into the present, or more accurately, into no time at all, and we are wholly content and in harmony with the way things actually are. Nowhere to go, nothing to do. The mind slows down, and there is this openness, precision and clarity. We become peaceful within ourselves, our relationships with others are harmonious, we enjoy life more, and are successful at whatever we undertake.
Later in relaxation, by employing the so-called diffused attention, or awareness without doing or naming, and extending it to our environment, we let go resisting our surroundings and are able to relax in spite of any disturbance. Ultimately, the final union (yoga) with God is found unexpectedly.
Give yourself a break, will ya? Try our Yoga Nidra class and relearn relaxation.
