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Chapter XXIII: Rules for Relaxation.1907
emancipated himself from its curse and teaches his students that the freeing
of oneself from Anger and Worry is the first step in practical Yoga.
While the controlling of the unworthy emotions of the lower nature really
form a part of other branches of the Yogi philosophy, it has a direct bearing
upon the question of Relaxation, inasmuch as it is a fact that one habitually
free from Anger and Worry is correspondingly free from the principal causes
of involuntary muscular contraction and nerve-waste. The man possessed
by Anger has muscles on the strain from chronic involuntary impulses from
the brain. The man who is wrapped in the folds of Worry is constantly in a
state of nervous strain and muscular contraction. So it will readily be seen
that when one cuts himself loose from these weakening emotions he at the
same time frees himself from the greater part of the muscular contraction, of
which we have spoken. If you would be free from this great source of waste,
manage to get rid of the emotions causing it.
And, on the other hand, the practice of relaxing—of avoiding the tense
condition of the muscles, in everyday life—will react upon the mind, and
will enable it to regain its normal poise and repose. It is a rule that works
both ways.
One of the first lessons in physical relaxation the Hatha Yogis give to their
pupils is given in the next paragraph. Before beginning, however, we wish
to impress upon the mind of the student the keynote of the Yogi practice of
Relaxation. It consists of two words: “Let go.” If you master the meaning of
these two words and are able to put them into practice you have grasped
the secret of the Yogi theory and practice of Relaxation.
The following is a favorite Yogi exercise in Relaxation: Lie down flat on
the back. Relax as thoroughly as you can, letting go of all the muscles. Then,
still relaxed, let your mind wander over the body from the head down to
the toes. In doing this you will find that here and there are certain muscles
still in a tense condition—let go of them. If you do this thoroughly (you will
improve by practice) you will end by having every muscle in the body fully
relaxed and the nerves at rest. Take a few deep breaths, lying quietly and