The fast paced nature of modern living has given us more stress that we have to manage on a day to day basis; and as a result it has compromised our physical and mental health. When people talk about relaxation, it often seems like something we aren’t always able to fit in our busy schedules, nor is it something that is being prioritized. But the reality is that relaxation is a crucial component to incorporate into your everyday life.

Common Relaxation Misidentifications: (what is not actual relaxation)

• Scrolling on your phone

• Browsing the web

• Talking to a friend

• Watching TV

• Playing video games

• Reading a book

• Hiking

• Even some forms of meditation

True relaxation is a state of being on the inside. All of the above activities require exertion of energy and are considered activities rather than relaxation. The flickering from any type of screen aggravates vata and increases dullness and lethargy in the mind.

Benefits of Daily Relaxation:

• Balances all doshas

• Particularly calms vata dosha

• Decreased heart rate and respiration rate

• Provides us with sustained energy

• Improved quality of sleep

• Improved coping abilities from stress

• Lowers blood pressure

• A sense of calmness and confidence

• Connects us to our higher self
  

Modern scientific studies have found what Ayurveda knew to be true thousands of years ago: that various forms of relaxation can help reduce many chronic health concerns as well as restore balance and encourage a more positive sense of self. I hope you explore the following list of relaxation techniques and see which ones you can incorporate into your day to day living.

1. Time Spent In Nature

Deliberately going into nature, by yourself, without your headphones or book, can be a potent way to relax. This does not include hiking, rock climbing, trail running, or bike riding, but more so looks like a slow, conscious walk where you can really take in the scenery around you. Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases feelings of well being and peace. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. Try sitting/lying on a rock, soaking in a hot spring, gazing at the sky, listening to the sound of birds or the babbling of water in a stream. The less you are doing and more you begin to bring your attention to your awareness of the senses, the more profound the effects will be.

2. Lie In Savasana

The benefits of yoga are numerous. Not only does it improve your flexibility, muscle tone, and balances the system, it also helps to relax the mind. While much of asana practice is designed to stimulate the body, Savasana is the time to relax and release. It shifts the away from the sympathetic nervous system to the parasympathetic side, where you can experience a calming, form of relaxation. Over time, Savasana teaches us how to move from anxiety to a state of relaxation where digestion, the immune system, and other essential systems are restored and enhanced. You could even skip the yoga asana poses, and just lie down for this deeply healing pose.

3. Take a Yoga Nidra Class

For those who aren’t familiar Yoga Nidra is an immensely powerful yogic meditation technique, and one that anyone can try. Yoga Nidra promotes deep rest and relaxation. The stages of body scan and breathe awareness can be practiced to calm the nervous system and promote deeper states of true relaxation. All true yoga nidra practices are for the purpose of an inward journey all the way to aware deep sleep.

Yoga Nidra teachers I recommend: Yoga With Kaya & Fannie Hungerford

4. Take A Restorative Yoga Class

Gentle, supportive, and therapeutic are just a few words that describe restorative yoga. At its core, restorative yoga is a practice of passive healing. Restorative yoga is a style of yoga that encourages physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. Appropriate for all levels, this form of yoga is practiced at a slow pace, focusing on long holds, stillness, and deep breathing. As the name suggests, this style of yoga “restores” the body to its parasympathetic nervous system function, which, in turn, helps the body rest, heal, and restore balance. Since a key feature of this type of yoga is the use of blocks, blankets and bolsters, you might need to get creative if you choose to do this practice from home.

5. Try Shirodhara

Ayurvedic bodywork is an ancient and powerful tool for bringing the body, mind, and spirit into harmony and balance. Shirodhara comes from the two Sanskrit words “shiro” (head) and “dhara” (flow). It’s a profoundly healing Ayurvedic treatment that involves having warm, medicinal herbal oil or milk pour in a tiny stream onto your third eye. Initially, the oil is streamed in dosha-specific patterns from the right to left temple. After several minutes, the stream is set to the middle of the forehead where it flows continuously for the duration of the treatment. The oil pour can last from 20-40 minutes and is followed with a deeply relaxing scalp and cranial massage. The shirodhara treatment has been shown to reduce brain waves to the more relaxed alpha state; making it an ideal treatment to reduce high levels of mental stress. This luxurious treatment induces calmness, promotes tranquility, and effectively facilitates relaxation.

6. Take Three

Learning to control our breath (through exercises like deep breathing or pranayama) will help the body take in more oxygen, which helps to relieve anxiety, slow our heart rate, stabilize our blood pressure, and allows us to relax. While there are many types of advanced breathing techniques, the Take Three practice is one you can do at any point throughout your day. This simple yet powerful technique allows you to become present and at ease. It is also a good choice to do anytime before you sit down for a meal, allowing you to slow down, become more aware, and offer your food a blessing or moment of gratitude. Simply close your eyes and take a slow, deep, full inhale, followed by a slow, deep, complete exhale. Repeat two more times and notice the difference in how you feel. It's also nice to keep a vile of lavender essential oil on hand; you can rub a few drops in between your hands, close your eyes, and breathe deeply as you bring your palms towards your nose.