Relaxing at your best feels good and can make you unstoppable. Prolonged tension and stress mostly feels bad. I know this is simplistic language but I think you intuitively get this.
“When you're relaxing at your best, you're like what?” is a question that elicits information about the relaxation state. At my recent 'Allowing' half-day retreat, I asked this question to allow participants to develop a model of being at their most relaxed.
Your 'state' at any given moment is the result of your thoughts, emotions and behaviours. By asking the question, the intention is to elicit a metaphor (preferable) or concept that captures the individual's experience of being relaxed. Participants attended the retreat in order to:
- become relaxed
- focused
- energised
- be in touch with myself
- calm my mind
- get in touch with my body
- feel centred
- get back into yoga
- feel positive
- lose stress
- be spiritually nourished.
These are their own words from the feedback form. I wanted them to discover what they are like when at their most relaxed.
Why don't you try the exercise now...
I recommend that you stop for a moment and consider the question:
When you're relaxed at your best, you're like what?
What's a description, symbol or model that represents how you are when you are most relaxed? I suggest that you draw or describe your answer on a piece of paper. Take a moment to do so now.
What are you like when you are relaxed at your best. You can explore your relaxed state more by asking:
What kind of activities allow me to relax at my best?
What kinds of environments allow me to relax at my best?
What stops me being relaxed at my best?
Are there environments/situations/activities that prevent me from being relaxed at my best?
Back to this blog...
So, what are the retreat participants like when they are relaxed at their best...
- invincible and unstoppable.
- self confident and positive.
- contented and present with what I am doing.
- Feel whole.
- Feel connected with the universe inside and outside.
- Like a 100 metre runner, calm at the start of the race (words were accompanied by a fast moving fist gesture).
- Like a snake malleable and strong.
- Feel positive, like I can do anything.
- Like a tree with deep roots
- Like the sun, warm, rays radiating in all directions – confident.
What's the point of knowing what you're like when you are at your most relaxed?
If being more relaxed makes you feel more confident, positive, unstoppable, connected, grounded, invincible, whole, able to do anything... then how can you be in that state more or most of the time or in situations when that kind of state would be super beneficial.
What can be done to help create/maintain that state? How do you become relaxed at your best...?
There are now hundreds of studies, which show that practices such as conscious (deep) breathing, meditation, mindfulness, chanting, prayer...induce a host of biochemical and physical changes in the body and brain chemistry including slowing heart rate and respiration, reducing blood pressure, strengthening the immune system, lessening pain and more.
These research studies importantly show how a person's state of mind affects the body on a physical and genetic level. As the body and mind are not separate, the body also affects the mind and research by neuroscientists now supports this.
Having a purpose in life to guide your endeavours; having a vision, goals, plans, taking action towards desires all affect your health, well-being and ability to be relaxed at your best. Though that being said, without the distractions of the mind and our vibrational misalignment with our desires, things would always be well. Yes, all would be well now!
At half-day retreats we use a variety of techniques including:
- yoga posture workouts
- conscious breathing,
- body isolation routine (thanks to Caroline Orme),
- dynamic meditation
- seated meditation
- supine/lying still relaxation
And healthy, nourishing food such as lovely green smoothies and healthy snacks to get into states of relaxation.
It is important also to note that everyone's experience of being at their most relaxed is different. There is tremendous diversity in responses because your individual system differs from other people's. This uniqueness is not taken for granted. Different approaches and techniques have different degrees of effectiveness depending on the individual including their current state of health and well-being.
I think our ultimate purpose in life is to be joyful and be in states of bliss/love; creating and taking action from this space.
In our hectic society it is important to retreat from the busyness and relax. We are not meant to behave as if we are appendages of technology – always switched on 24x7.
The participants of this retreat discovered that there is more to the relaxed state than calmness and a sense of peace. It is inspiring for me that people left knowing that they can do anything, feeling confident, unstoppable, positive, whole and connected to the universe.
Some Participants' Raves...
“I felt connected and grounded at the same time. I saw beautiful lights and divine gold dust on my inner journey. The retreat is great fun and emotionally, physically and spiritually nourishing. I thought the Kundalini meditation exercises were amazing.” Stephanie Veillas
“A very good session. Mixing up dancing and other activities was a winner. Slept like a baby last night and up with the larks this morning.” Matthew Stallion.
“I felt whole, and this has enhanced the journey that I am currently on. It was a great positive experience” Marlis Mangatal
It was all excellent. I felt energised and relaxed. The retreat is a great opportunity for 'me' time. I slept like a baby last night and went for a walk this morning” Angela Sandiford.
“I really enjoyed it. It was nice to be led for a change instead of leading. It has really helped with my practice helping to be more precise with exercises. I will definitely come again. Not sure about the green drink though!” Mick Jennett.
“Excellent! I now know that the body can move by itself!” Sandra McLean
Best
p.s. The next half-day retreat will be on Saturday 25th June, 2016, 12pm-5pm. Please make a note in your diary. Hope to see you there!
