Science of Relaxation
Divine Life
Society Publication: Hatha
Yoga by Swami Sivananda
Life has become very complex
in these days. The struggle for existence is very acute and keen. There is very
keen competition in every walk of life. The bread problem has become very
difficult to be solved. There is unemployment everywhere. Even brilliant young
men with extraordinary qualification and recommendations hardly get job in
these days. Therefore, a great deal of continuous mental and physical strain is
imposed on modern humanity by its deadening daily work and unhealthy mode of
life.
Action produces movement;
movement causes habits. Man has acquired many artificial habits. He has allowed
nature’s original habits to lapse. He has brought tension in many muscles and
nerves through incorrect habit-positions. He has forgotten the first principles
of relaxation. He will have to learn lessons from the cat, dog and the infant -
the Science of Relaxation.
If you practise relaxation, no
energy will be wasted. You will be very active, and energetic. During
relaxation the muscles and nerves are at rest. The Prana or energy is stored up
and conserved. The vast majority of persons who have no comprehensive
understanding of this beautiful science of relaxation simply waste their energy
by creating unnecessary movements of muscles and by putting the muscles and nerves
under great strain.
Some persons shake their legs
unnecessarily while sitting. Some play Mridang or Tabala (drum) with their
fingers on the table when their minds are idle or vacant. Some whistle. Some
shake their heads. Some tap their chests or abdomen with their fingers. Energy
is thus dissipated or depleted through unnecessary movements of the parts of
the body on account of lack of knowledge of the elementary principles of the
science of relaxation.
Do not mistake laziness for
relaxation. The lazy man is inactive. He has no inclination to work. He is full
of lethargy and inertia. He is dull. Whereas a man who practises relaxation
takes only rest. He has vigor, strength, vitality and endurance. He never
allows even, a small amount of energy to trickle away. He accomplishes
wonderful work gracefully in a minimum space of time.
When you wish to contract a
muscle in order to perform an action an impulse is transmitted from the brain
through the nerve to the muscle. Energy or Prana travels through the motor
nerves, reaches the muscle and causes it to draw its ends together. When the
muscle contracts it pulls the limb which you wish to move. Now you can perform
the action with ease. First there is thought. Thought takes form in action
through contraction of muscles.
Suppose you wish to lift up a
chair. The desire creates an impulse in the brain. The impulse is transmitted
to the muscles of the arms from the brain through the motor nerves. A current
of prana or energy is transmitted along the nerves from the brain. The muscles
contract and you perform the action of lifting up the chair. Similarly all
other conscious or unconscious actions are performed by you. If the muscles are
overworked more energy is spent and you get fatigue. There is much wear and tear
in the muscles through overwork, strain and tension on account of heavy
expenditure of Prana or energy.
When you perform an action
consciously message is given to the mind and the mind immediately obeys by
sending a current of energy to the desired part. An unconscious act is done
instinctively or mechanically. The mind does not wait for orders. When the
scorpion stings you in a finger, the finger is at once withdrawn. You do not
argue here. This is an instinctive or mechanical movement.
A man of easily irritable
nature cannot enjoy peace of mind. His brain, nerves and muscles are always
under high tension. He is wasting every minute abundant muscular and nerve
energy and brain-power. He is a very weak man though he is endowed with
physical strength, because he loses his balance of mind very easily. If you
really want to enjoy unruffled peace and abiding joy, you must try to possess a
calm, controlled and balanced mind by eradicating worry, anxieties, fear,
anger, and impulses.
You do not gain anything by worrying
yourself unnecessarily and manifesting anger for nothing at all. Anger belongs
to brutal nature. Anger does positive injury to brain, blood and nerves. You
are not profited a bit by exhibiting anger. By repeating an action, a habit is
formed in the mind. If you worry yourself frequently, a worrying habit is
developed. Your vitality and energy are simply drained by worry, anger, fear.
Why should you be afraid of anything at all, when everything is nothing but
your own self? Fear, anger and worry are the products of ignorance. The muscles
and nerves of a victim of anger and worry are always under contraction and high
tension.
The action of one set of
muscles can be checked by the operation of another set of muscles. One impulse
may try to put one set of muscles in motion and by sending another repressive
impulse through another set of muscles you can counteract the action of the
first set of muscles. If a man abuses you, you may jump at once to beat him. An
impulse has already put one set of muscles in motion. You may check the impulse
through discrimination and reflection: "I do not gain anything by beating
him. He is an ignorant man. He does not know how to behave. Let me forgive him
now." A repressive impulse will check at once the operation of the first
set of muscles by another set of muscles. Raising of impulses and
counter-impulses or repressing or inhibitive impulses, cause high tension in
nerves, muscles and brain. Vast majority of persons are slaves of impulses;
hence they do not enjoy peace of mind. They are tossed hither and thither.
The science of relaxation is
an exact science. It can be learnt very easily. Relaxation of muscles is as
much important as contraction of muscles. I lay great emphasis on the
relaxation of mind, nerves and muscles. For relaxation Savasana is
Prescribed.
Excerpts from:
Science of Relaxation - Hatha Yoga by Swami Sivananda
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