Relaxation

Also known as body scan meditation, relaxation meditation is a practice aimed at reducing tension in the body and promoting relaxation. Oftentimes, this form of meditation involves slowly tightening and relaxing one muscle group at a time throughout the body. In some cases, you may also be encouraged to imagine a gentle wave flowing through your body to help release any tension. Within Yogic practises Yoga Nidra is a form of relaxation meditation. Yoga Nidra is a guided relaxation meditation also known as “yogic sleep” or “effortless relaxation”. It’s usually practiced lying down with a teacher guiding the session. The practice draws our attention inwards, and we learn to surf between the states of wakefulness and sleep, where our body finds its natural state of equilibrium (homeostasis) – the breath balances and becomes quiet, unconscious and conscious aspects of the mind reveal themselves, and we fall into an innate state of deep, blissful awareness. This form of meditation can be used to relax after intense activity, useful for athletes or for people in demanding physical or mental working environments. Relaxation meditation can be particularly helpful and supportive to relieve stress and unwind before bedtime.