I looked up the word 'relax' in the dictionary. The example it gave for the word was, "yoga is helpful in learning to relax.”
I rarely relax. I am very flexible, I am strong, and I used to be in the circus. I’m usually approaching my ‘edge’ of everything but don't listen when my body is begging for relaxation. My personal practice is strong and energizing, on the verge of contortion (but I'm working on it), and I find great joy in doing arm balances, handstands and deep backbends. I always want to go further, I get warm and I feel good so go deeper. I want to feel worked. I want to feel a stretch. I relax into more and more but I rarely relax... not until savasana. And I definitely don’t relax if I haven’t exerted myself first, whether I just did a strong asana practice, surfed for hours, ran, swam, you name it. I find physical exertion to be cathartic and it also helps me let go, mentally, emotionally, and physically. But this type of letting go is not the same to me as relaxing.
When I feel tired, or worn out, or sore, I usually just don’t practice. Maybe I sit and meditate, if I get that far. I hold a lot in, and it shows up as tension in my body, especially lately. I believe it is important to find a balance between my strong practice and a restorative one, instead of just not practicing.
Here is a relaxation sequence for releasing tension, embracing subdued energy, to do in the evenings or on days when I am pooped:
Handstand or press handstand (just one, to physically and mentally center, one last oomph)
Uttanasana with knees bent, draping, melt down to floor
Ardha padmasana with hips elevated on blanket, shoulder rolls, drop head to side, lift/drop chin (both sides)
Ardha padmasana on the other side, cat/cow with hands on knees
Supta Badha Konasana, lift head toward feet, then lower, arms extend slide on floor over head
Apanasana, rock from side to side, circle knees both directions
Windshield wipers
Happy baby (ananda balasana)
Reclining straddle (supta samakonasan)
Supported bridge
Salamba sarvangasana, with knees bent, hips resting into hands
Matsyasana
Savasana
I looked up the word 'relax' in the dictionary. The example it gave for the word was, "yoga is helpful in learning to relax.”
I rarely relax. I am very flexible, I am strong, and I used to be in the circus. I’m usually approaching my ‘edge’ of everything but don't listen when my body is begging for relaxation. My personal practice is strong and energizing, on the verge of contortion (but I'm working on it), and I find great joy in doing arm balances, handstands and deep backbends. I always want to go further, I get warm and I feel good so go deeper. I want to feel worked. I want to feel a stretch. I relax into more and more but I rarely relax... not until savasana. And I definitely don’t relax if I haven’t exerted myself first, whether I just did a strong asana practice, surfed for hours, ran, swam, you name it. I find physical exertion to be cathartic and it also helps me let go, mentally, emotionally, and physically. But this type of letting go is not the same to me as relaxing.
When I feel tired, or worn out, or sore, I usually just don’t practice. Maybe I sit and meditate, if I get that far. I hold a lot in, and it shows up as tension in my body, especially lately. I believe it is important to find a balance between my strong practice and a restorative one, instead of just not practicing.
Here is a relaxation sequence for releasing tension, embracing subdued energy, to do in the evenings or on days when I am pooped:
Handstand or press handstand (just one, to physically and mentally center, one last oomph)
Uttanasana with knees bent, draping, melt down to floor
Ardha padmasana with hips elevated on blanket, shoulder rolls, drop head to side, lift/drop chin (both sides)
Ardha padmasana on the other side, cat/cow with hands on knees
Supta Badha Konasana, lift head toward feet, then lower, arms extend slide on floor over head
Apanasana, rock from side to side, circle knees both directions
Windshield wipers
Happy baby (ananda balasana)
Reclining straddle (supta samakonasan)
Supported bridge
Salamba sarvangasana, with knees bent, hips resting into hands
Matsyasana
Savasana
Nice. A very honest and open talk about letting go and relaxing. The sequence appears to be very chilled out too. I enjoyed it. --Denise
ReplyDeleteJazmin, It's so much fun to see your energy and self-study expressed both in your Dharma Talk as well as during class. I've learned much about myself by listening to, and exploring the questions that you ask. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteHey Jazmin - I love that your relaxation sequence begins with a press handstand :)
ReplyDeleteNice! Relaxation could be attained in a different way. You clearly mentioned it,
ReplyDeleteWe need to exert the body to relax the mind and to relax the body we need to relax the mind through meditation and or pranayama....
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ReplyDeleteOkay, I'm jealous. Your life sounds AMAZING. Surfing? Running? Swimming? Hours of asana? Meditation, if you feel like it? You are so wonderfully active. And yes, thank you for the reminder to relax and restore!
ReplyDeleteJazmin, you are such a joyful bundle of energy to behold! It's great that you are learning how to manage this energy both by doing more and by holding back. As time goes on, I feel you will seek more opportunities to let go rather than to add on to your already active schedule.
ReplyDeleteI struggle with relaxation too. I totally relate to what you write here about wanting to feel worked or exerted before you can relax. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun it was watching Rodney show circus gal what it feels like to be stiff dude! That lesson alone was a lifetime's fodder for the containment you need to expand, which we all got vicariously--one of the huge gifts of you in particular and this ATT overall.
ReplyDeleteI can absolutely relate! My body goes into system shut down mode after pushing it. Learning to relax is challenging but so rewarding. Thanks for your honesty.
ReplyDeletetalk is super interesting and you do understand yourself. would be great to see you sequence a real complete restorative class.
ReplyDeletealso matsyasana after shoulder stand is too jarring on the nervous system and the cervical spine even though it "feels" good initially
ReplyDelete