Friends, I basically outlined the physiological or 'body' aspect of the execution of the relaxation (Wooo-Sah) pose.

However, what I will like to do now is present a more thorough description of what takes place (or should take place) with these exercises.

We all know that one of the necessary things needed to keep an automobile in good condition is cooling the engine when it gets hot.

Well the same principle applies to the human body. When the body and mind are constantly overworked, their efficiency in performing their duties diminishes.

It goes without saying that modern social life, food, work and even play make it difficult for the modern man to relax.

Even while asleep the average person spends a great deal of physical and mental energy. An observance of nature will show us that animals love to rest and sleep. They get as much sleep as they want. Rest and sleep are essential to recharge our nervous energy.

Friends, it goes without saying that for the perfect balance of our physical, emotional and mental well being, the quantity and quality of our rest and sleep is 100% important. They are the only things that recharge these batteries and allow for the proper elimination of metabolic wastes. Energy is often expended even unconsciously just like a faucet that constantly drips.

Ever heard of the sayings: "Don't let the sun set on your anger?"

"Forgive and you will be forgiven"

"Come unto me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest"

"Cast your burdens upon the Lord for He cares for you"

And finally excerpts from Matthew 6:25-34

"Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?"

" Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Yes, yours truly is a believer in The Word friends.

Well, I am sure that in the present economic times of this writing (03/06/10), most adult Americans (heck, even me, some times) are stressed and burdened with worry and do need some kind of relief.

Perhaps that's why entertainment will never go out of style, perhaps that's why even the use of marijuana (a recommended NO! NO!) still is on the rise and increase. Perhaps that's why people engage in improper sexual activities, just for the release.

Release from what?

Worry, anxiety, stress and all related modern day demons!

Frineds, emotional burdens such as worries, sorrow, anxieties, anger and greed are highly devitalizing. A few minutes of anger expends more energy than a day of physical work! After anger, worries and sorrows disappear there is still yet another demon waiting to swallow the energy that is: mental fatigue or tension.

Suffice it to say that perhaps only the corpse pose offered to us in Yoga can aid modern man to recapture the art of relaxation. In order to achieve perfect relaxation, three methods are used by the yogis. The three methods are known as physical, mental and spiritual.

No relaxation is complete until man reaches the stage of spiritual relaxation, which only Yogis know.

Physical Relaxation In The Yoga Relaxation Pose:

Readers, we all know that every action is the result of thought originated in the mind consciously or subconsciously. Thoughts take form in action and the body reacts to it.

Before we execute an action, the first thing that has to take place is the thought to do just that. The thought is created in the mind, sent to the brain and at the same time, the brain sends the message through the nerves to the muscles needed to be engaged to perform the act. (contract)

Well, the exact opposite of that can be done to NOT perform (relax)

So while laying in the corpse pose, very much the same way you could tell yourself to perform an act (contract a muscle), this time around make your thoughts tell your body parts to relax.

Friends this is called "Auto-Suggestion"

Perform autosuggestions from the toes upwards while the suggestion passes through the muscles and reaches up to the eyes and ears at the top. This is performed by saying mentally to yourself: "My toes are hereby relaxed, my ankles are hereby relaxed…"

Mental Relaxation In The Yoga Relaxation Pose:

As I have outlined in the tutorials I have put online and elsewhere in my other articles related to the Sivananda Style of Yoga, one key element to perform yoga poses is breath control.

This specific method of breathing is known as square breathing and is usually executed by rhythmically breathing in a specific ratio being

1. Inhalation for 5 seconds

2 Retention for 5 seconds

3. Exhalation for 5 seconds

So, taking that into consideration, after you have completed with the Physial (Auto-Suggestion) Aspects of the Relaxation Pose, which should take anywher from 5-7 minutes, perform this square breathing pattern for an additional 5 minutes.

During mental tension one should breathe slowly and rhythmically for a few minutes and concentrate on breathing. Slowly the mind will become calm and one is able to feel a kind of floating sensation.

Spiritual Relaxation In The Yoga Relaxation Pose:

The Wisest Teacher that ever lived once said: "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he"

That's directly related to saying, be careful what you wish for, for you just might get it!

Well, as I have outlined how thoughts can be used in the first stage of the corpse pose (auto-suggestions), for the Spiritual side, you will have to engage your thoughts again, by a soon to be discussed silent affirmation session.

In spite of how a person may try to relax the mind, one cannot completely remove all tensions and worries from it unless one goes to spiritual relaxation.

Well, Foras; what is that?

Spiritual Relaxation is the pre-meditated process of using your thoughts to withdraw yourself from the body idea and ego ego consciousness, there is no other way of obtaining complete relaxation but by this.

Therefore, after engaging in the aforementioned square breathing in the mental relaxation, one should begin asserting his true self by stating mentally: "I am that pure consciousness or self"

What I do is in the same time of inhaling and now exhaling I make that mental affirmation for about 5 minutes.

I perform this by saying it in my mind mentally for 5 seconds while inhaling and the same thing for 5 seconds while exhaling 30 times which is about (or exactly 5 minutes if you use the aforementioned Metronome set to keep time)

This identification with the self completes the process of relaxation.

Now, That was a more thorough detail of just what is taking place when you execute the yoga relaxation pose.

Well, folks we have just about covered all the necessary poses for the Sivananda Style of Yoga from the Sun Salutations all the way to the relaxation pose.

It is my hope that with dedicated practice, attention to detail and adherence to the guidelines thus far presented, you to will be able to gain proficiency at executing these exercises with ease, poise and perfection.

Namaste.

Foras Aje