How to do mind relaxation yoga techniques?

The mind relaxation yoga techniques are done in many ways. The human body needs physical as well as mental comfort. It needs continuous action in a particular way for fixed durations. Excess of rest and excess of activity is harmful.

The mind relaxation yoga techniques are done in many ways. The human body needs physical as well as mental comfort. It needs continuous action in a particular way for fixed durations. Excess of rest and excess of activity is harmful. An optimization needs to be achieved in the activities. A healthy body contains healthy mind. The narrative here is for a physically healthy body. Mind does not get tired. It is only sick of negative stimuli. On an average sixty thousand thought cross a human mind. In Patanjali Yoga Sutras, every impulse, irrespective of its being happy or sad, creates pain in the subconscious. These need to be got rid of. It is precisely for these reasons, we need to relax our mind by way of physical as well as mind relaxation yoga techniques. Mind body relaxation can be achieved in the following ways:-

1. Yogic asanas and exercises:

In this technique, we perform an exercise where we lie down in a position with our legs raised up supported on some higher object and the body at a lower level so that the natural flow of blood is towards the head. This way the head receives extra amount of blood keeping it fully oxygenated. The blood vessels in the head are at its optimum. The nerves and neurons receive perfect amount of oxygen and are thus relaxed. This exercise is done for about fifteen to twenty minutes at a time and twice a day. It is preferably done when you have been standing for long at work or moving for long time say after morning walk etc. when the extra blood gets accumulated in the lower parts of the body. Not only the head receives extra blood but the legs also which were otherwise heavy with blood due to long standing or walking will also be relieved of extra burden of blood. The muscles and tissues of the legs will relax thereby giving a sense of comfort. The mind will relax automatically. You may fall asleep during this time. It is normal. Enjoy the process.

2. Breathing exercises:

Breathing exercises are very important for relaxing the mind. A particular breathing pattern will greatly help. First two deep and normal breaths to get rid of foul air in the system. Followed by 3-4 minutes of deep breathing involving inhaling and exhaling deeply. The exhaling time should be longer than inhaling time. No holding of breath here. Here itself you will cool down and start felling relaxation of mind. Then we do force exhaling without inhaling for about 5 minutes. Inhaling here is automatic. This process is especially helpful in the present pandemic. Then we exhale and hold our position as we can. This we repeat 4-5 times. Then comes the most important part of the breathing exercise in mind relaxation yoga techniques popularly known as Anuloma- Viloma. Here the normal breathing is done alternately from one nostril to another in a particular sequence as :

• Inhaling from left nostril keeping the right nostril closed by a finger;
• Exhaling from the right nostril by opening it and simultaneously closing the left one;
• Inhaling from right nostril keeping the left nostril closed by a finger;
• Exhaling from left nostril by opening it and at the same time closing the right one by a finger.

The above four processes constitute one cycle. About 24 such cycles can be done at a time taking about 10 minutes. No holding of breath in this case. Just continuous flow form one nostril to another as above. In this exercise the thought process will slow down as your attention will be towards the breath. When the thought process is diverted, the mind relaxes a great lot.

3. Meditation process:

This is one of the key features in Indian spiritual system developed by our great seers. This is the easiest exercise involving no effort. Better, if you are little tired and little hungry. You may just sit down or lie down in loose clothes. There should be minimum disturbance around. Just be there without doing anything. Just do nothing. Keep sitting or lying down as you are. Do not think anything. Many thoughts will Criss cross your mind. Then:

• Let the thoughts come to your mind and let them go.
• Do not chase them. Let them go.
• Do not resist your thoughts. Let them come and go.
• Do not hold the thoughts. Let them go.
• Do not create any new thoughts.

Thought once comes and you have allowed it to go, will not come again. You will be astonished as to what kind of thoughts come to you during this time. These may pertain to your old memories of childhood. In fact, these are the suppressed emotions which surface here, and which are very important to be relieved of. Initially more the thoughts come, the better it is as you are slowly being relieved of them with continuous practice. As you are being relieved of thoughts, the mind will start relaxing. This process should be done for about 15-20 minutes and twice a day.

4. Conclusion:

Mind relaxation yoga techniques are quite easy to perform and are immensely effective. These relaxation techniques are quite simple and do not require any extra preparations. Please perform these techniques as per your own capacity. Do not compare yourself with anyone else. Mind relaxation yoga asanas and postures are helpful in perfect blood circulation in all parts of the body. The pains and vibrations in the body are settled and you feel good and relaxed. Once the blood circulation improves, all parts of the body are nourished well, the mind relaxes a lot. You have great potential to heal yourself with these mind relaxation techniques. Important is that you do it with all sincerity and dedication and perseverance. Enjoy yourself with mind and body relaxation yoga techniques and be healthy and happy always.