Savasana: Relaxation

Relaxation should be done at the end of asana work. This will enable the body to rest after stretching the muscles and also to release any tension within the body.
Relaxation gives the body a time to be quiet and to generate a stillness within. Relaxation can also be used to regenerate a persons energies as it helps enable the body to be still.

In yoga there are three parts to proper relaxation-physical, mental and spiritual.
Starting in  a relaxation pose, such as the ’corpse’ pose is the best way to start physical relaxation. This is followed by mentally sending messages to parts of the body to contract, relax and soften. This mental messaging begins at the feet and is worked upwards.

It is suggested to tense all parts of the body first and then to release in order to ensure the person can distinguish how tension feels, which will help to determine that relaxation has been achieved.
    
In a yoga class I would introduce relaxation at the end of asana work. I would encourage people to ensure they make themselves warm enough, by covering themselves with a blanket, or putting an extra layer of clothing on.

The Art of Meditation

Over the past one hundred years or so, the way of life has changed greatly throughout the world. systems and social systems within society have evolved and changed dramatically, which has brought about a dispersion of human energies at all levels of being, and within our lives.

The mind has lost the balance point and harmony in all spheres of exsistence. the focus on life has largely become on material survival, and few are aware of the change and what has happened.

Diseases have sprung up creating new dimensions,perspectives, and manifestations, which is ever on the increase at the moment. Largely these illnesses are STRESS RELATED, which are often caused by the inabilty to adapt to highly competitive and fast paced existences.

I can bet you have or will know someone who suffers from diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure),migraines, asthma, digestive disorders and skin diseases?! all these can occur from stress related impact, tensions arising in the body and the mind.

modern medicine often finds these issues hard to tackle and that is largely because the REAL problem does not lie in the body and the physical, but stems from the mind and perception. it's in a persons way of thinking and feeling. "mind over matter"

whether you think too much or not much at all, we all develop and accumulate tensions. whatever we do or don't do in our diets, physical life and work..we all create and accumulate tensions.

there are different types of tensions which accumulate within- muscular tensions, emotional tensions and mental tensions-each having their own components.
relaxation, meditation and yoga nidra ~(yogic sleep) can help to release and relax these areas of tension, helping to create harmony and balance and to live effectively in these fast paced,hectic lifestyles that we tend to lead.

performing relaxation properly is essential to truly releasing tensions from within us. correct performance of relaxation has more benefits than may originally be realised, for instance an hours performance of yoga nidra, is better than 4 hours of conventional sleep.
proper relaxation helps us to construct and reform ourselves from within, relasing tensions and building on new energies, creating new focus and effective thinking, and positivity.
releasing tensions helps transformation in our lives in every apsect.

the relaxed mind is in its natural state.

there' are many techniques for relaxing properly and effectively and regular practice of this is brilliant for bringing awareness to yourself that you may not have been aware of.

Mental Benefits of Meditation

Meditation helps to develop new ways of thinking. which can help to understand issues, resolve them and to create new thought patterns -calmer and structured.

*Negative tendencies vanish and the ind becomes steady and focused.

*Regular meditation practice helps to create general cheerfulness, powerful speech, confidence, compassion, and lots of energy.

The benefits of meditation are vast and the above is only touching the surface to a whole universe of wisdom and benefits of meditation practise.

Physical benefits of meditation

Meditation rests the body and mind, reducing heart rate and blood pressure.

*The need for sleep is gradually reduced. (sometimes to as little as three hours a night)

*Each part of the body is given time to relax and rejuvenate, right down to a cellular level.

*Breath becomes slower and relaxed, thus helping to combat stress. (Our breath tends to be a replica of how we are feeling. If we are panicked, our breath is fast and shallow, calm-our breath is slower and deeper. )

*Helps to prolong the body's period of growth and cell production, and reduces the decaying and degenerative process.

*From the age of 35yrs, brain cells die off at a rate of 100,000 per day and not replaced. meditation can help to reduce this decline, as it changes the vibratory make-up of both mind and body, and so helping to reduce and prevent senility.

How to Meditate

When beginning meditation, it is important to not set yourself any goals and expectations. the only thing I would suggest to do, is to dedicate a small amount of time each day to set aside to practice meditation. even if it's just 5 or ten minutes. make sure you won't be disturbed.

Keep an open mind and enjoy the adventure of meditation.

There is so much to find in meditation and so many exciting methods and ways to focus the mind in meditation, for example using pictures-usually mantras, and mandalas-symbols, chanting, or simply sitting and observing.

A simple technique to begin with is just practicing to still the body, teaching you to sit quietly and to focus your attention. by watching your thoughts and learning to identify distractions, we begin the path of meditation.

1, ensure you are wearing loose comfortable clothing. find a quiet place to sit, without disturbance.

2, sit comfortably with your legs outstretched. Close your eyes and concentrate on relaxing each part of your legs, beginning with your hips and finish by stretching and relaxing your feet. if you feel comfortable, bring your legs in towards your body so that you are now sitting crossed legged.

3, turn your attention inward and be aware of your thoughts and emotions that arise. are you at ease? or a little self conscious? do you notice any emotions or a change of mood? is there a sense of excitement or are you bored? is your head filled with distracting thoughts? none of these reactions are right or wrong,just how you perceive them. for a few moments, just be aware of them.

(Our minds need constant stimulation and will try its best to distract you from focusing. try the exercise again,but this time try it with your eyes half open gazing at a point just ahead of you, see if your thoughts and experience changes. it may do as the mind is given something to focus on, but if not it is entirely personal to your mind and experience.)

Happy practicing.

Why Meditate?

The benefits of meditation are many, and an important part to yogic practice. It helps us to obtain both physical and mental benefits, and quite importantly, it helps us to find inner peace and happiness, helping us to deal with a world of issues.

Everyone wants to be happy, and people often go searching for happiness through external factors, for example-'If I had more money I'd be happier', or 'If I had a better job or new car I'd be happier'.

Although these things may please you, it will only be a short term achievement, and the search for happiness will continue with more material objects being desired. Searching for happiness cannot be found through external happiness.

The key to finding happiness is to find it within ourselves as each person is unique it is important to look within and to find what truly makes us happy.
Meditation helps us to make time and find peace and calmness in hectic, fast paced lifestyles. People often think they don't have time to meditate, but often with the practice of meditation, (no matter how little a time initially) a person realises there is more time.

Another Sample Post

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean.

A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.

Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar.

The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen. She packed her seven versalia, put her initial into the belt and made herself on the way.

When she reached the first hills of the Italic Mountains, she had a last view back on the skyline of her hometown Bookmarksgrove, the headline of Alphabet Village and the subline of her own road, the Line Lane. Pityful a rethoric question ran over her cheek, then

A Sample Post

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean.

A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.

Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar.

The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen. She packed her seven versalia, put her initial into the belt and made herself on the way.

When she reached the first hills of the Italic Mountains, she had a last view back on the skyline of her hometown Bookmarksgrove, the headline of Alphabet Village and the subline of her own road, the Line Lane. Pityful a rethoric question ran over her cheek, then