| Yoga practitioners develop self observation skills | | | | are selected and modified to suit your needs. You |
| even during the relaxation at the end of the yoga | | | | become deeply involved as you observe and assess |
| class. Yogic relaxation exercises are many, and vary | | | | the effect of the practice on your body and mind. |
| from progressive muscle relaxation to breath | | | | Self-observation and self assessment can or must be |
| awareness. | | | | an ongoing practice, to keep in touch with all aspects |
| There is however a systematic relaxation of the | | | | of our being. |
| many body parts that deeply relaxes body and brain, | | | | In a formal yoga on the mat practice, we can |
| and can infuse the body with consciousness even at | | | | develop our self observation skills by paying attention |
| a cellular level. Where attention goes, energy follows. | | | | to many intricate details of our physical body. "Are |
| Disconnection from the body is one cause of illness. | | | | my shoulders stabilized?" Or on the other hand, we |
| This conscious and felt connection with more than | | | | may find that simply being aware of and feeling |
| 100 body parts during yogic relaxation, infuses the | | | | whether we are maintaining length in the spine, |
| parts with life energy, also called chi, or prana. | | | | suffice for self assessment of the physical. |
| Researchers, from Swami Vivekananda Yoga | | | | Maintaining awareness of and feeling the movement |
| Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA) and Bangalore | | | | of breath while we hold a pose, also develops our |
| Institute of Oncology (BIO), tested yoga relaxation | | | | self-observation skills. And on a more subtle level, |
| techniques on those living with breast cancer in | | | | awareness and self assessment of how grounded |
| second and third stage and found that the exercises | | | | we are, or how much lightness we feel is the first |
| were not only successful in fighting the side effects | | | | step to keeping us balanced energetically when in the |
| of the ailment, but also helped maintain immunity | | | | pose. |
| levels to fight the disease. | | | | On deeper levels, as we remain steady in the pose, |
| Yoga techniques include poses, breathing, hand | | | | we might observe and feel how much sadness our |
| positions, meditation, self study and relaxation. Singling | | | | heart holds, and/or how much determination we feel. |
| out relaxation, there are at least ten yogic relaxation | | | | The longer we are able to hold and breathe easily in |
| techniques to quiet the mind and relax muscle | | | | the pose, we may observe ourselves enveloped with |
| tension. Benefits from relaxing mind and body affect | | | | feelings of softness, surrender or courage. |
| us physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. They | | | | The more we are able to connect with all levels of |
| include: | | | | our being, i.e. physical, energetic, mental emotional, |
| - Increase ability to focus | | | | spiritual, the more we improve the health of our |
| - Increase ability to communicate with others | | | | immune system and foster the sense of well being. |
| - Contributes to increased energy levels | | | | Energy follows our attention. |
| - Increased self acceptance and inner peace | | | | What steps will you take today to infuse your |
| - Increased resistance to anticipated stress | | | | physical body, mind and emotions with |
| Yoga becomes therapeutic when yoga techniques | | | | consciousness? |