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Webster's dictionary describes relaxation as the state of being free from tension and anxiety. A state of relaxation is no small thing in today's world, where the stresses and strains of daily living are high. And Yogic relaxation goes even deeper, and includes not just relaxation of the muscles; not just relaxation of the heart; but also brings about a state of deep and conscious rest, and increases mastery of the autonomic nervous system functioning. Most of us are bringing the past with us each day. In one of Jack Johnson's songs, Staple It Together, he sings:
"He became a prisoner of his own past ...
He shot the future in the foot with every step he took
From the places that he's been cause he forgot to look"
We carry tension and pain from our past and it becomes our present, and even our future. One of the goals of systematic relaxation practice in the Himalayan tradition is to unhook these connections to the past which cause us to suffer, and which reside in the unconscious mind. This CD contains some of the simplest of those practices.
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Sample Track - Smooth Breathing
Although our nervous systems are quick to gear up to ‘fight or flight’ response whenever we feel threatened, the movement of our nervous system back to a relaxed, parapsympathetic response happens more slowly. In today’s world, people are stressed much of the time. An ongoing stressful state depletes our body, nervous system, and digestive systems. People don't function well in emergency mode on an ongoing basis.
Relaxation practice restores the body, nervous system, and mind. Practicing relaxation we calm and center our awareness, remove fatigue and the effects of exertion, and relax our muscles and organs. And this relief from stress is just the beginning. By practicing relaxation, we quiet our nervous system and free up energy. We feel refreshed. We can move into deeper states of awareness to free us from our mental and psychological defenses, access the unconscious, and to allow the creative and deeper aspects of our being to awaken.
Practicing relaxation regularly and consistently over time helps us access a relaxed state in daily life. As we become familiar with systematic relaxation we learn to shift our state when we are in a difficult situation – remembering to come home to smooth breathing, to draw our attention inward and open to a creative solution to whatever we are facing.
As you practice relaxation on this CD, you might program your CD to play the introduction and one track of your choice. You can either complete the relaxation as the guided portion ends, or rest for a longer period of time. These relaxations can be learned and self-guided, so that you can take yourself through them if you don’t have access to a music player. Enjoy!
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Sample Track - Smooth Breathing
