MayoClinic.com encourages people to practice yoga because of its many physical, mental and emotional benefits. Yoga's ability to help you relax is one of its biggest rewards. If you are searching for relaxing yoga classes in your area, choose classes that have "gentle," "restorative," "beginner," or "level one" in their title. While power yoga classes help you feel relaxed, they often focus more on strength and endurance. You can also practice yoga tips and techniques in your daily life for more relaxation.
Be Present
To fully concentrate on a yoga pose, while breathing evenly, takes concentration. Through the process of practicing yoga, you train your mind to stay focused on the present moment and the tasks at hand. You do not need to be in a yoga class to practicing being present. At any time of day, acknowledge what you are doing at that moment. Take deep breaths to recognize your reality.
Breathe
Yogic breathing is just as important as yoga poses. To practice breathing, or pranayama, anytime, sit or stand upright. Empty your lungs deeply with a gentle contraction of your abdominal muscles. Allow your lungs to fill back up from the belly upward into the chest. Try several rounds or a few minutes of deep, even breathing. The non-profit, self-help website Helpguide.org lists breathing exercises as a powerful tool for relaxation.
Focus on Body Cues
While holding yoga poses, you learn body awareness. Even a challenging yoga pose can become a balanced blend of effort and relaxation when you listen to your body's cues. As you go about your daily routines and chores, stop to reflect on how your body feels. Notice areas of tension. You might be keeping your jaw or shoulders tight, for example, without even realizing it. Make an effort to relax any tense areas by breathing deeper and adjusting your posture.
Permission to Relax
Part of being able to relax is giving yourself permission to do so. Chores, errands, work responsibilities and other stressors can make you feel like you are moving too fast to even think about slowing down. If you can give yourself permission to relax for a few minutes a day, you can experience the benefits of a yogic mind. Avoid seeing relaxation as a luxury. Rather, see it as a deserved break, which will help you work more efficiently.
Let Go
When yogis hold yoga poses, instructors often cue for them to "let go." You can interpret this to simply mean to release tension or stress, but sometimes the pose itself is challenging. In this case, letting go might be working the pose despite the discomfort or effort it requires. In daily life, you can let go in similar ways by not fighting your challenges or what you find tedious about your chores. Note that working to improve your situation does not contradict the idea of letting go or becoming less attached.
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