Relief
A feeling of reassurance and/or relaxation.
How often have you said the phrase “well that’s a relief” and as you do you can feel as if a weight is lifted from you. You may feel lighter or like tension begins to release from your body.
Often times, we are not even aware of the weight or tension we are carrying until it releases, and we feel that sense of relief. Considering just the physical body, we may even seek professionals to help with this through massage, chiropractic, energy release, and more. As always, our yoga practice can be helpful.
This week we will intentionally build tension add weight, then releasing it to feel the sensation of relief.
Journaling Ideas: Choose to write about something that has recently caused you tension or to feel heavy. While it may seem challenging, write out all the details you can think about. Why it has brought this feeling on, when it’s peaked, and all the feelings associated. As you write this down you should start to release some of the processing of it in your mind which will hopefully begin to offer some relief. Holding and constantly processing these situations can consume an enormous amount of our energy without even realizing it.
Meditation Ideas: Try a meditation laying in your bed. Put on comfortable clothing, even get under the covers if you wish. Allow your physically body to feel relief in the comfort. Begin with breath awareness, then a pause at the end of each exhale and breath in relief. Then repeat the phrase in your mind, “I feel relief because…” and consider all the reasons you can feel relieved. Maybe it’s because you have great supportive friends, a comfy bed to lay in, a fridge full of food. There are many reasons we can feel reassured in our lives.
Restful and Active Yoga Poses to Add to Your Practice This Week:
- Restful – Corpse Pose (Savasana): Feel the relief of the support of the full body. There’s no need to have any tension in the body or mind. Suggestion to add a bolster/rolled full-sized towel under the knees to provide relief to the lower back.
- Restful – Restorative Supported Child’s Pose (Balasana): set up with a bolster/cushion that supports your torso. Ensure the body feels fully supported and do not hold weight in the shoulders.
- Active – Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose (Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana): standing, and using a strap, engage the balancing leg fully, core is tight, extend up through the crown of head. Extend the leg out in front and pull the toes towards you, creating tension in the extended leg. Pause here for 3-6 breaths and as you let go feel the relief and stand in a soft Mountain Pose.
- Active: Eagle Pose (Garudasana): squeeze it all together in this balancing pose and when you release it, feel the relief.
- Active: Chair Pose (Ukatasana): Using a block to add weight in the hands, squeeze the block together and lift the arms finding as much flexion in the shoulders and pressure between the hands as you can. Release into a soft forward fold and feel the relief.
Remember to always practice within your own limits and take care of physical and emotional well-being.
Wishing to learn more about the practice of yoga? Join our upcoming 200HR Yoga Teacher Training in Calgary, AB!
If you want to share your experience with us, follow us on Instagram: @albertayogacollege
With gratitude,
-Stephanie