It will not be an exaggeration to say that
we live, work and sleep in tension - and die because f
tension-induced diseases. Relaxation which is opposite of
tension, is obviously, therefore, a sovereign remedy for
most of the modern ills. The very word ‘ relaxation
‘ can be relaxing ; it is derived from
‘re’-again; and ‘lax’-loose, limp or
languid. If we go on thinking about and acting on the
meaning of this word , we may well be hypnotised into
relaxation.
Relaxation is as much the need of modern times as
exercise is. For our soft muscles we need exercise, for
our high-strung neres, we need relaxation. Only by
relaxation we can assauge our jitters, and bring about a
degree of mental serenity. Exercise which contracts or
stretches muscles and tires them out is also a means of
inducing relaxation by producing healthy fatigue. Exercise
increases nervous stamina and decreases nervous tension.
While bearing this in mind, we have to remember that
relaxation has to be seperately studied and practised.
What is relaxation ? Mr. H.D. Cotton says, "
Sensation of relaxation is one of complete
‘floppiness’, a limpness similar to that of a
rag-doll." Whereas Mr. Charles Neil in a British
Medical Association booklet writes, "Good relaxation
is not a floppy state, sagging at the knees and dropping
at the shoulders. Relaxation cannot be seperated from
well-co-ordinated movement, grace, poise, and good
posture." Paradoxical though it may sound, both are
right. Mr. Cotton refers to what we experience lying in a
bed, whereas Mr. Neil refers to our posture while we are
up and about. A thorough study of grace, poise, posture
and co-ordinated muscular movements is highly desirable,
but beyond the scope of this article. Here we shall try
to learn about relaxation only. When we talk of
relaxation, we have to first understand tension. Tension
are of two kinds, mental and muscular ( or more
correctly, neuro-muscular). Often the two are present
together ; and where they are together, usually the
mental tension contributes to physiological or physical
disturbances. These tensions are often reflected in the
group of muscles behind the neck, or in the stomach or
heart or colon. Researchers have found that psycho-emotional
tensions contribute to at least half of the physical ills
that beset mankind today. There is need to relax now
as never was in the entire history of mankind. Most of
us, most of the time, are all keyed up. Like
Newton’s law that a moving object tends to keep in
motion, a moving thought also tends to keep in motion,
unless we do something to check its momentum.
Is change of occupation relaxation ? The answer can be
‘yes’ only if the occupation is a really
relaxing diversion. To go to a dinner-dance or a cinema
or a club for playing cards after a hard day’s work
at the office, may provide recreation ; though such
recreation has its utility, relaxation is a step beyond
mere recreation. Even where some relaxation can be
achieved by being engrossed in a hobby, or engaging the
mind in unusual, out-of-the-rut avocation, practice of
muscular relaxation is necessary as a seperate study.
The main suggestion to give oneself for physical
relaxation is ‘let go’; one has to ‘let
go’ of the muscles. Often we ‘hold on’ to
our muscles, so to say; letting them go flaccid and limp,
while lying in a comfortable position, relaxes them. One
has to think of the muscles becoming sluggish and
succumbing to the pull of gravity. Mind is concentrated (
here it is again a relaxed concentration ) on relaxing
the body ; it should not let other thoughts intrude
except if these intruding thoughts are pleasant, and
contribute to relaxation.
Muscles of the jaws are often taut ; these and the neck
and shoulder muscles have to be attended to. The
eye-balls have to be gently rolled in both directions,
behind the closed eye-lids. Relaxation of teh jaws, neck
and eyes, induces relaxation in other parts of the body
more easily. As for the limbs, if relaxation cannot be
achieved directly, then it can be achieved by contrast
with tension ; the muscles are tightened and then
relaxed. This technique, however, is to be followed only
in the early stages of mastering relaxation ; thereafter,
it should be possible to achieve relaxation directly
whenever and wherever desired. In the contrast method, if
the tension is maintained for, say, five seconds,
relaxation is to be maintained for one minute or more -
i.e. till the time it seems the relaxation initially
achieved has decreased, and tension has crept in
surreptitiously once again. All the time, slow and
shallow breathing has to be maintained. The bodily
position has to be recumbent ; a bed is preferable, but
easy-chair will do . The position illustrated here is
quite good; but one may as well lie on one’s
side,and then practise relaxation as suggested above.
Some persons find it soothing for nerves to lie on the
back and then do abdominal breathing. In this type of
breathing, with inhalation the abdomen rises and not the
chest ; and with exhalation, the abdomen sinks. The chest
is kept immobile.
Just as mental relaxation conduces to physical relaxation
(psychosomatic effect) , so also physical relaxation
helps relax the mind (somato-prelaxation is ‘let
go’ , mental relaxation is ‘letsychic effect).
If physical go’ (in all senses of the term) combined
with ‘let God’, i.e. resign yourself to His
will.
A few more pointers to aid you in your quest for
relaxation. Pretensions lead to tensions, so avoid
sham and hypocrisy. Be yourself. Your true self is not
what appears externally, whether it be the physical body
or the intellect or some other mental attribute. Your
true self is something within you that is never
disturbed. It is always serene like the bottom of the
ocean is serene, though storms may be raging on the
surface. This inner true self can be reached by practice
of relaxation. Learn to enter this quiet rom within you.
Behind all our aches and pains, malaise and discomfort,
tension is a predisposing, precipitating or perpetuating
cause ; if this tension is released, pain disappears ; of
course, the effect does not last, unless all the
underlying causes of that pain are simultaneously sought
to be removed. Relaxation is a natural tranquilliser,
more effeective than tranquillising drugs, and without
the drugs’ side-effects. Discovery of ‘Easy
Does It’ is worth all our while ; let us relax our
way to health.
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