The Art of Relaxation

I notice in my life the drive to do more and be more. Often
I hear people saying that there are not enough hours in the
day to do all that they have to do.

It’s not difficult to understand why the importance of
relaxation is overlooked in favour of being busy, meeting
commitments and having a sense of ‘achievement’.

However relaxation is essential to our well-being and is
a vital part of the picture of health.

Some people are gurus at the art of relaxation; other people
associate it with self imposed boredom or have a sense of
anxiety as they don’t know what to do with themselves when
everything else falls away.

One of the best ways to relax is to find something that you
enjoy doing that allows you to ‘un-hook’ yourself from the
demands of life and rest in the moment, being you, just as
you are.

Relaxation gives your body the opportunity to assimilate
experiences, rest in the parasympathetic nervous system and
re-balance the endocrine, cardio and muscular skeletal
systems. Psychologically it can help open a new perspective,
give space for creative inspiration, and improve your mood
and energy levels.

Physiologically this helps your immunity, your physical
appearance and is a preventative against the development
of serious stress related illnesses occurring.

There are many factors that stop people from taking time to
relax, including being over-stimulated, being under pressure
or not having a conducive environment to completely let go.

To help you relax experiment with some of these suggestions:
• Remember what you loved doing as a child whether it was
drawing, writing, swimming, surfing, dancing and take the
time to do this
• Go to a restorative yoga class
• Have a deep hot bath with candles and lavender or rose
essential oil
• Get a great book and have an early night with a cup of
chamomile tea
• Avoid stimulants like chocolate, coffee or caffeinated
drinks or stimulating food
• Avoid wearing tight or uncomfortable clothing
• See the in-store naturopath for a herbal mixture that
supports and assists your nervous system
• Take flower essences to help ease mental or emotional
tension
• Light a fire and make some mulled wine
• Lie on the ground tense each part of your body then
relax it and allow yourself to completely rest for at least
ten minutes
• Lie down with your feet up at the end of the day
• Swap a massage with a friend
• Avoid over-eating so your body is a comfortable place
for you to be in

For a quick relaxation technique that can be used at any
time during the day tense all of your body and then let it go,
followed by three conscious breaths, inhaling through the
nose and breathing out through the mouth.

Take the time to relax, feel your body soften, settle and
release, your breath become even and regular and a sense
of peace and wellbeing filling you up. Even if it’s only for
a few moments each hour, a few minutes a day or an extended
period in the evening you’ll notice the benefits in all areas
of your life.