Find ways to relax

[1]

Amrit Sadhana [1]

Relaxation is that blissful state of being in which one is at peace with oneself and with the world. It is the consequence of an untroubled mind in a relaxed body — a body free from undue tension. It is a fallacy to think that relaxation is something opposite of daily routine. You can’t set aside a separate time for relaxation and then get ready to be tense again, can you? In fact, if you cannot relax in your everyday life you can’t hope to relax on a vacation. Because your body and mind have forgotten the art of

relaxing. You will carry your stress along with your baggage even on the vacation. True relaxation is only possible while doing your daily chores.
The word relaxation is misunderstood because it is thought to be the act. Even the dictionary defines relaxation negatively: “Become less tense, less formal, or less restrained. To abate in severity; to become less rigorous”. Ok, even if one becomes less tense or less restrained the positive feeling of well-being is not forthcoming. One doesn’t feel “Aha!” which is closely associated with relaxation.
It has to be understood that relaxation is not an activity, it is a result of dropping unnecessary confusion and stress of the mind. The body is naturally relaxed but the mind is in such a turmoil that it infects the body with some of its tension.
Don’t wait for the weekend or the yearend to go on a vacation and find your share of relaxation. On the contrary, it will be very beneficial to include relaxation in your daily dose of vitamin supplements. It is much more invigorating than any of the vitamins. If you are relaxed at work it creates measurable changes in the body, such as a reduction in the heart and respiratory rate, blood pressure, blood cortisol levels and muscle tension, and an increase in the production in the brain serotonin, which leads to feelings of calmness and well-being.
To relax is truely a rich and multidimensional phenomenon. It is like a rich tapestry in which the threads of letting-go are deeply interwoven with trust, surrender, love, acceptance, going with the flow, union with existence, egolessness and ecstasy.
It sounds too good to be true but is it easy to learn it? By all means. Osho suggests a simple method of watchfulness. If you add watchfulness to everything you do, the quality of your mind will change. That doesn’t mean you will be slack or lousy in your actions, on the contrary you will be more agile and energetic.
This is the Osho way: Start with watching your breathing. As you start watching, the breathing slows down. This itself changes the climate inside and around you. Breathing is the key to your inner organism, this key will unlock many unknown doors in your unconscious mind.
Then expand your watchfulness and include the sounds all around... telephones ringing, a car passing by, people typing on the keyboards, the whistle of the train or the cooker. This all-inclusive watchfulness is a great tool for relaxed awareness. You accept everything around you. Most of the mental struggle is due to not accepting what is happening around. Relaxing within yourself simply means not going outwards, withdrawing all your energy which generally goes on moving outwards. Even if you have tension, include it in your awarenss.
Just try walking very slowly, and you will be surprised — a new quality of awareness starts happening in the body. Eat slowly, and you will be surprised — there is great relaxation. Do everything slowly... just to change the old pattern, just to come out of old habits.
First the body has to become utterly relaxed, like a small child, then only start with the mind. Move scientifically: first the simplest, then the complex, then the more complex. And then only can you relax at the ultimate core.

— Amrit Sadhana is in the management team of Osho International Meditation Resort, Pune. She facilitates meditation workshops around the country and abroad.