Tension is our personal enemy No. 1. It is responsible for much of the poor health, both mental and physical, in our society.
The definition for tension is "trapped energy." Through some yoga exercised, you can learn to release this "held still" energy and change it into freed energy with we call vitality.
Practically all the yoga postures work on just that. The neck exercises are very effective for this. Just reach back and gently knead the shoulder muscles. If they feel tight and hard, you are tightening those muscles automatically during physical work or mental concentration,.
This is one of the big confusions. To concentrate on something, you do not have to tense your muscles. You women, the next time you iron, see if you hold your iron relaxed, letting it glide over the garment or are you pushing the iron with not only determination, but tense arm, hand and neck muscles,
All of you see if you drive your car with relaxed arm and neck muscles, in particular. Many people tighten up the jaw too. The jutting tight jaw is even an accepted idea of courage. You can be just as courageous and even a better driver if you relax and put some enjoyment into it.
The first way to relieve tension is to know just where you are trapping this energy, for it does rob you of energy your body is creating when you hold your muscles tense. I you want to find out, try this experiment: extend your right arm in front of you, now clench the fist and tighten the entire arm. Hold for 15 seconds. See how tired, even painful tension is? No wonder so many persons these days complain of tension headaches. The neck and shoulder muscles are held tight for hours, not just seconds or minutes.
Some persons hold tension in their midsection. This, of course, interferes with digestion and can cause duodenal ulcers. With the digestive juices over-stimulated, the body actually feeds upon itself. There are many yoga exercises that relieve tension in this area, but one of the best remedies for this condition is the abdominal breath.
To experience this, sit stand or lie down, Place our hands on your abdomen and exhale, pulling your stomach muscles in and up. Then inhale, letting the abdominal muscles relax letting the diaphragm lower and the stomach balloon out. Repeat five times. Think and create relaxation in the area. Don't be agreed you stomach muscles will sag or stretch. They will actually tighten up with use and your abdomen will be more firm.
It will take awhile to perfect this breath. Men find it easier than women, as women have been carefully taught to breath from the chest, and hold the tummy still. Check other muscles for tension. How great it will be when you are able to change all that trapped energy into free energy to do the things you want to do.
*****No I have no changes. It was better than I thought it would be. I didn't' realize that I gave such details about checking your body. I know that I still check my body automatically for tension.**** (comment in **** 30 years later)
