What does it mean to relax? You’ve probably been told to “just relax” before, but has anyone ever actually explained what that means or how to do it? Probably not. When we relax, we do and think things that help our brain and body understand that we are safe. When our brain and body understand that we are safe, some important things happen:
1) Our heart rate slows down a bit. That also helps lower our blood pressure and makes our muscles feel less tense.
2) Our breathing becomes a little slower and deeper, allowing our cells to absorb more oxygen.
3) Our blood gets directed to our internal organs which makes it easier for them to do their jobs. This is why your stomach might gurgle when you are feeling relaxed.
4) The part of our brain in charge of keeping us safe from danger turns down its volume a bit, and we can think more clearly.
Relaxing does not come naturally to a lot of people. In fact, most people need to PRACTICE relaxing to become better at it, just like they would go to the gym and lift weights to get stronger. This yoga practice is designed to help your nervous system practice shifting into the relaxation state in both easeful and more demanding postures because that's the secret sauce--being able to shift into relaxation even when life gets challenging.
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