Lie on your back, legs slightly apart with hands away from the body, palms facing upwards. Shut your eyes and focus on your breath for a few seconds to help calm down.
Then progressively take your awareness to different parts of the body, starting with your hand, moving up the arms, down the waist, along the leg. Do this for each side. Then focus on important organs in the torso. Finally move to your face, becoming aware and relaxing each part of it.
The entire practice may take up to five to fifteen minutes, depending on how you pace your progressive body awareness/ relaxation. After practice is over, you may sit up and open your eyes.
Benefits: It is one of the most healing of practices. It calms the chaotic static of the reticulating activation system in the brain. This changes the brain wave pattern from the hyperactive beta mode into a relaxed, alert alpha mode. This in turn triggers a cascade of bio-neurological responses which are believed to be healing.
Also read: Yoga to improve flexibility
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