A Relaxation Exercise to Try at Home

We will discuss relaxation exercises like the following on the retreat. Here’s one of my favourites to try:

• About an hour before bedtime

• Sit in a comfortable upright position with your spine straight

• Put a stopwatch on

• Close your eyes

• Use your mind to relax your toes, and then repeat this process in your feet, ankles, calves and work all the way up your body, relaxing every muscle, with your mind, until you reach the crown of your head.

• Now you are ready to relax the mind itself:

• Use the same relaxation process you just did with your body, on your brain.

• Use your mind to relax different sections of your brain as you remain seated upright.

If at any point you become bored, agitated or no longer wish to continue, open your eyes and stop the stopwatch. Try and build the length of time that you are able to perform this exercise. It is common for experienced yogis to meditate for an hour.

Performing this exercise for ten minutes, five days a week, has produced a variety of results including better sleep and improved concentration.

Dan Sarkozi in sukhasana for Tiggar yoga shoot in Key West, Florida