Using Yoga and Meditation to learn how to relax.
“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax”
Mark Black
Relaxation techniques are a great way of helping the body and mind to rest and recover.
Sometimes we can find it difficult to switch off. Especially as we have many day-to-day demands, work stresses and are constantly switched on due to notifications from phones.
This leads to increased stress, anxiety and other mental health issues.
– Why is it important to learn to relax? –
Symptoms of stress, anxiety and other mental health ailments can affect both our physical and mental wellbeing; as well as motivation, relationships, sleep just to name a few things. It can negatively effect the way we behave and react to certain situations.
Relaxation is not only about finding peace or doing a relaxing hobby. It has a very positive effect on both physical and mental health. These techniques help with maintaining wellbeing. They can help alleviate and regress long term health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and certain types of pain.
– How Yoga and Meditation can help –
Yoga is a mind body practice, that helps with not only physical wellbeing, but mental too. It combines gentle breathwork with physical postures, gentle, controlled movement, meditation and relaxation. There are a range of practices from the very gentle and accessible Chair yoga, to Hatha Yoga (most suited for beginners), to the very physical practice of Ashtanga Yoga.
When you find a practice suitable for you, it can help us become more flexible, mobile and active as well as reducing stress and anxiety within the mind and body. This in turn leads to a reduction in heart rate and blood pressure.
The Best thing is, Yoga and Meditation is suitable for anyone. All you need to do is practice.
– Aimee, AMALAwellness
Meditation helps with becoming present, slowing the heart & mind down and feeling at peace. When practiced regularly, meditation can have a wonderful effect on mental wellbeing. However, like working our physical body, the mind must be trained to see the benefits.
– Relaxation techniques you can take anywhere with you –
Consideration of Environment…
Take time to create a peaceful environment where ever you are, whether it is your desk at work, or your bedroom or living room. Make time to create a peaceful and calm environment.
Set time aside for peace, calm and relaxation…
Whether its an hour to read a book in the bath, taking the dog for a long walk or attending a local yoga class. Taking this time is crucial for our wellbeing.
Gentle Yoga
Gently moving the body, stretching and having a focus on the breath can really help to calm the mind in a positive way. It helps to soothe the nerves and the nervous system, takes our mind to the present and gentle movement and stretching helps the body to produce hormones and chemicals which invoke a sense of relaxation and recovery within the body.
Autogenic Relaxation
Autogenic = coming from within…
Autogenic Relaxation uses visualisation and body/mind awareness to invoke relaxation within. It includes guiding muscles to gently let go and relax to take the mind and body into a place of deep calm. Usually, this is practiced lying down and to feel the benefits, 15-20 minutes of uninterrupted practice is needed.
Gentle Breathwork
Gentle breathwork is a process where we use or breath to change out physical and mental state for the better. It helps to soothe the nervous system. Slowing the breath and taking a one point focus to the breath helps us to calm the mind and body, slow down our heart rate and allow the mind and body to relax. Click here for a short practice to take with you anywhere.
Meditation
By just pausing, inhaling deeply, exhaling fully and gently closing the eyes, we can practice meditating anywhere we find ourselves. By just relaxing the shoulders, face, removing the tongue from the roof of the mouth and taking an awareness to the breath, it can being us back to the present moment.
– Guided meditations to practice at home –
Local AMALAwellness’ classes.
We run classes across Teesside.
Yoga & Meditation – Tuesday Evenings, Ragworth Community Centre, Norton, Stockton on Tees.
Yoga and Meditation – Friday Mornings, St Mary’s Chuch Hall, Nunthorpe.
See our Yoga & Meditation classes for days, times, pricing and location here.
What Relaxation techniques do you use? We would love to hear from you!
About The author:
Aimee is a Yoga, Meditation and Chair Based Yoga and Exercise teacher in located in Middlesbrough, England, UK.
To find out more, visit www.amalateesside.com
I’ve had a nightmare day so this couldn’t have come at a better time. I need to try and practise my breathing and meditation.
I’m not so into it but it is something I’d like to give a chance. Lots of my friends practice yoga and told me to try. Maybe I should start following your post. Thanks. – Amalia
These are great tips for anyone. I particular love that you shared some guided mediations to try at home.
Thank you for sharing. I used to do daily yoga until about 2 months ago and then got Covid and now struggling to get back into it but my body is desperate for it.
I practice meditation and I find in the energies and the ability to enchant and balance them the best tool to find harmony, serenity and lucidity.
Meditating and yoga always makes my mind calm & relaxed. It truly relieves stress and anxiety.
I do struggle to switch off in the evenings so sometimes I do sleep meditations to help, I really need to do these more x
It’s so important to find time and relax with whatever technique works for you. I have my weekly meditation group that helps me relax and get energized.
I have to start working on my breathwork again. I found yoga/breathwork to be so relaxing in the past. This is a great post!
I started a weekly yoga class a few months ago and it’s so relaxing for my mind and body.
Some fabulous techniques here and I know they will help me relieve and reduce my stress levels
Meditation definitely helps me to relax. I want to get into yoga though. I know that it has so many benefits.
This is amazing. I would love to try it. Glad that I know about this because I need it. Thank you for sharing!
Fransic – https://www.querianson.com
I do this most of the time and helps me a lot. I enjoy quite time and have a peaceful walk in the park, breath fresh air, and appreciate the nature. It nurtures me!
It’s so important to find your balance and be rooted within yourself. It helps you so much to relax and to recharge your inner batteries.
Thanks so much for these useful helpful relax techniques shared, with WFH, this really good for me
This is such a great, informative post that came just as the right time for me. I have been feeling so stressed and anxious almost to the point where it feels like it can consume me sometimes! I am definitely going to take on board some of these tips and try them out so thank you!
Meidiating and doing yoga is the sore of my weelbeing. I love learning new tips likes this and will used them in my practice. Thanks a lot!
I have wanted to try guided meditations. I think I am going to do it today. I have noticed I am clenching my jaw more lately and I don’t know why. Maybe relaxing will help.
I would definitely benefit from practicing these exercise techniques. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for these tips! I often need to relax, like many of us. Reading this post was relaxing itself.
Thank you for sharing these wonderful tips. I myself took time to deal with anxiety because of this pandemic. I’m currently teaching myself how to relax, I also do yoga and meditation, too. It really helps me a lot.
These are great tips, Amala. I also practice yoga & meditation and I can attest that it’s beneficial to the body holistically. I used to get stressed easily during my early 20’s but I learned to manage thought this.
being able to relax is important and it is a work or an activity to learn. It’s funny but to relax is not simple
Relaxing is such a fundimental part of our lives that we always look past and say we don’t need when we do. I love your tips on how yoga and medition can help us to relax.
I have been reading up on PCOS a lot lately since I was diagnosed about 4 years ago, but reducing stress has been one thing I have seen over and over. I definitely need to do something about my stress and anxiety.
I used to do yoga all the time before becoming a mom. Now it’s a bit difficult with the little ones always at my feet lol. But I really need to get back into it, it was so peaceful and relaxing for me