Relaxation Meditation

This is another meditation that has been seen everywhere from dentist's offices to yoga studios. It's a simple way to systematically de-stress and relax. Any little tensions that have accumulated can get released.

How to Practice

Sit or lie down in a comfortable position. You can shift your position at any time if it becomes uncomfortable.

Start with your face. As you breathe in, tense up as many muscles as you can in your face, hold the tension for 5 to 10 seconds and then let the tension go along with the breath.

Move on to your neck and throat and shoulders and do the same there: breathe in and tense up, hold it for 5 or 10 seconds and then let it go.

Make fists with your hands, and clench your arms as you inhale. Hold, then exhale, releasing the tension and the breath.

Then do the same at your chest, belly and back.

Then move on to your backside, legs and feet.

When you are done, rest there for a while, feeling the kinks easing out and enjoy the relaxation.

Notes

This works on more than one level. It rests the body, simply enough. But as you focus on each area in turn, it also rests the mind and emotions.