Whats your favourite position?
Lying down
Lying down, isn't it everyone's favourite position?
In the 20 years of teaching yoga, meditation and varying relaxation techniques, time after time, sighs of relief and whispering echoes "yes" fill the space in the moment it is softly announced, "lay down, get cosy, close your eyes..."
That's right, it's time for the relaxation phase. The moment everyone waits for in a yoga session (even if they don't know it). Yet, it the most difficult to do.
That is because there's an art to relax that comes with effortless practice. The only effort is to create the time to lay down for no sleep deep rest (NSDR). Time, one of the most highest values a person can give themselves which in turn creates more time. The magical effects of this relaxation gradually integrates into your being that become more spontaneous as your practice. And I can show you how to do this but first let's look at why relaxation is something almost everyone wants more of in their life.
When relaxed your entire life changes because you start seeing, hearing, and feeling more. Your senses become more alive. Awareness opens right up. Denial ceases because when relaxed, you start feeling more comfortable in body and mind and accept all aspects of yourself. You start perceiving self and others differently and may notice you even become more creative and motivated in new ways. And what may have bothered or upset you before, suddenly becomes insignificant.
If like most people you find it difficult how to relax or sleep peacefully, you will realise you are not alone. Todays pressures are an endless list. I have-to-do this, I have to go there or feeling bad for not doing more, or simply unable to switch off, comparing yourself to others, feeling of not good enough, trying to keep up with family, friends, pressures of social media, circling over the past worrying about the future the list goes on. We see and hear these pressures all the time.
There are many reasons that stop the much needing simplicity of slowing down, even
stop.
Move yourself out the way
These illusions are made up of The Three Gunas meaning qualities behind, within and around our physical and subtle bodies. They make up our thoughts, moods, how we think, inevitably, how we act. Your life validates this by continuing patterns through the qualities of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas of who you are, sleep, eat, dress, work, choice of friends and so on. The Gunas determine you.
Yoga says when making decisions, go into Sattva
for clarity of truth. A kind of refining emotions and thoughts for true action to be taken through Rajas. When in Tamas you can't think properly since qualities of doubt and negativity exist there, creating blocks, fears and so on. Caught in this tendency can be destructive yet Tamas is needed to calm down for rest. Hridaya Meditation offers a direct source to Sattva since it shifts the awareness of mind into the heart who is abundant with pure and unconditional love where we no longer self judge.
Once putting personal hurdles and insecurities to one side you create space in the mind. Where there is a clearing, focus sharpens and you start becoming inspired by life again. The not liking aspects of you, turn into loving, believing and trusting in you. You'll not only like hanging out with your relaxed self but will share a newfound radiance with others.
