In yoga, relaxation refers to the loosening of bodily and mental tension. Keeping muscles in a constant alert state expends a great amount of your energy, which then is unavailable when your muscles are called upon to really function. Conscious relaxation trains your muscles to release their grip when you don’t use them. This relaxation keeps the muscles responsive to the signals from your brain telling them to contract so that you can perform all the countless tasks of a busy day.

Tips for a successful yoga relaxation practice Relaxation is a conscious endeavour that lies somewhere between effort and no effort. To truly relax, you have to understand and practice the skill.

Try the following:

• Practice in a quiet environment where you are unlikely to be disturbed by others or the telephone.
• Try placing a small pillow under your head and a large one under your knees for support and comfort in the supine, or lying, positions.
• Ensure that your body stays warm. If necessary, heat the room first or cover yourself with a blanket. Particularly avoid lying on a cold floor, which isn’t good for your kidneys.
• Don’t practice relaxation techniques on a full stomach.

Deep relaxation in yoga: The corpse posture:

The simplest and yet the most difficult of all yoga postures is the corpse posture, also widely known as the dead pose. The corpse posture is an exercise in mind over matter. The only props you need are your body and mind.

Use yoga for relaxation before sleep:

If you want to enjoy deep sleep or are experiencing insomnia (but don’t want to count sheep), the following exercise can help you.

Many people don’t make it to the end of this relaxation technique without falling asleep.