Sooth & Relax
Melatonin doesn’t always work. Neither does Ambien. Sleepy time…Yes, insomnia, perhaps, one of the many chronic daily disorders that feed on being geared 24/7. Whether we are rushing for work, are stuck at our desk or behind the wheel our mind is constantly wired, our bodies perpetually bombarded. Together with the positive experiences and outcomes of the day we are often subject to daily stress, anger, doubt, anxiety, worry and fear of what lies ahead. Our bodies have no choice but to process all these negative stimuli, and at night when we finally get back home our legs get sleepy or tired, our circulation is impeded, our brains – overwhelmed, our lower back –tender. Most of the time, we either feel we want to stuff ourselves with food, glued to the T.V. set, or pump the iron and potentially work out the fatigue in the gym, hoping that this will sooth our toiled bodies. Due to the ever-increasing activity during the day our adrenal glands are on high alert as our body functions on “fight or flight”. At night the organism naturally switches gear, moving into a meditative state of mind, when our bodies organically request a more restorative pace.
A “juicy” evening yoga practice is probably the best way to switch to a relaxation system response. As we massage the inner organs, nurture the glands, calm the mind, stretch the ligaments, rinse the lactic acid stored in the muscles we are able to prepare for a comforting and healthy sleep. I find it inspiring to practice in the city at night. You can still feel the buzz and choose whether to ride with it, or simply let it recede into the background, while you digest the lessons and experiences from the day. It’s quite fascinating how the night practice helps the background body recede into the foreground. In quantum physics terms as we move the scenery from behind in front, and overlap the dimensions we simply get the effect of the hologram. Whether it is an optical camouflage, where we render a person invisible by projecting the background image directly into his body, or an actual attempt to make the intangible tangible, we can always speculate. One is sure, in Yogea, as we move into the background body we invite the silent witness to observe through us, to study the self impartially, without any judgment or preconception. We slowly grow to tune to this “natural guide” that offers a full scan of our inner reality, which has become a reflection of the outer world. Introspection, also known as “svadiyaya” in yoga verbiage, is one of the key “observances”. It offers us the gift of contemplating the fruits of today, while we set a positive intention for tomorrow. It is a moment when we regain the trust in the body’s latent wisdom and remind ourselves of the subtle power of introspection and equanimity.
And hey, next time you reach out for the remote control after work, open the fridge, or hit the gym, go for the healthier and more fun alternative, and plunge into a self-reflective Yogea evening routine. Oh, and dump those tranquilizers. Simply marvel the body’s natural way to produce melatonin. It’s sleepy time!
Evening Yogea Routine – Sooth & Relax
This Yogea sequence is intended to calm the mind, massage the ligaments and sooth the nervous system into a healthy sleep. Targeted reclining breathing techniques open the front and back of the body, and help it stretch while relaxing. A comfortable massage of the lower back relieves pressure from the lumbar spine caused by sitting all day. Subtle backbends alternate with core work and hamstring, hip and shoulder stretches to promote an overall stimulation of the joins, girdles and organs. A simple, but invigorating warm-up abounds with meridian crossings and soothing hip-openers to alleviate tension build up and energy clogging. Standing, sitting and reclining twists purify the organs, flushing away toxins and de-compressing the lumbar spine. Bound standing postures promote balance and inner peace by stimulating the right and left brain hemispheres. Quad openers pair with hamstring stretches and seated twists to nurture ligaments and tendons while catalyzing the detoxification and glandular stimulation process. The accent is on forward bends that elicit the parasympathetic nervous system response, and usher the mind and body into deep serenity states. The meditative pace and forward-bending focus of this sequence stimulates the background body and helps tap the subconscious reservoir of latent potency. The practice is contemplative and asks us to reflect on the lessons of each day with a sense of equanimity and appreciation. Poses are deliberately held longer to promote a deep physical, psychological and physiological effect, restoring the natural equilibrium of body and mind, soul and spirit.
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