The First Sign of Stress May Surprise You

Relaxation – bringing yourself back to yourself

As I promised earlier, here is a little more insight into the chapters and topics of my new book, The Happiness Revolution. Today’s topic is relaxation.

Everybody wants to relax. Those who do not want to, are told to do so by their friends and relatives. As relaxation becomes a common prescription, it would seem wise to know what the word means.

Relaxation means to open, to let go of, and most interestingly it also means to pass a stool. Laxation is the natural healthy state of the mind and body. According to Yoga Science, the first sign of stress is an irregularity with one’s bowl movement, thus, laxation and “laxative” both come from the same origin. To relax is to re-gain laxation.

When we are under stress we feel constricted, constrained and condensed – and according to Ayurveda, the colon is the first casualty from stress. When you correlate the constricting force of stress with the collapsing of space in your day or in your body, then the cure becomes obvious – you must re-open, re-inflate that collapsed space within you. Relaxation is the process of re-opening that space.

The ancient Sanskrit word for relaxation is ‘pratyahara,’ meaning “to collect yourself, one by one, from every direction, as a means to bring yourself back to yourself, thus, overcoming any sense of loss and infusing the present moment with a sense of safety and comfort”.

Irregular bowel movements -- the first sign of stress – can become the starting point for unlimited problems and disease. The longer the stool and bowel gas remain inside the body the greater chance that these waste products will get reabsorbed into the bloodstream.

When both stool and gas are trapped within the body, then a secondary method of release must be found. As they get reabsorbed into the bloodstream, this acidic waste can be released through perspiration, through eructations (belching) or it will go into the joints or tissues of the body and disturb their function. In Ayurveda, many diseases including GERD and arthritis are directly related to the re-absorption of the gases and toxins from the bowel. The acidic nature of these trapped substances cause an inflammatory response that burn or damage bodily tissues.

Proper relaxation training will lead to the gradual recovery of a healthy bowel habit and the routine removal of all bodily waste. Relaxation training will release constrictions in the mind and the body creating an attitude of openness and a sense of comfort within the body. Learning to relax is a life skill for everyone and every age.

You can read more about specific relaxation techniques in Chapters 7 & 8 in The Happiness Revolution. I will write again soon.

Blair