What does it mean to relax the mind and body? Do you put on the television to relax? Do you prefer to sit in silence and relive the events of the day? For me the television can add stress and anxiety to my body.
And silence is a foreign word to many.
Between young children, traffic, cell phones...
you get the idea, silence can be tough.
A different approach to relaxation would be to learn how to do this yoga pose to unwind at the end of the day.
You owe it to yourself, your body and your mind.
Are you experiencing any of these signs of tension?

• Body stiffness
• Headaches
• Digestive problems
• Insomnia
• Chronic anxiety
• Irritability

A classic yoga relaxation position called the corpse pose is an alternative solution to softening your stiffness and easing your anxiety by allowing you to pause and slow down.
Relaxation in this position is achieved through visualization, conscious breathing techniques and active involvement in the pose.
The corpse pose looks like the easiest of all the yoga poses but it actually is one of the hardest.
There is a fine balance keeping the mind focused on the here and now and actively involved in the success of this pose, yet letting go of the body and feeling the calm in all your muscles and organs.
You are actively releasing tension with this pose.
Your mind needs to stay present and your body needs to stay still.
Lay on your back with your legs straight and your feet about hip distance apart.
Straighten your arms and place your hands slightly away from your hips.
Relax your head on the ground and close your eyes.
Soften each part of your body by concentrating your mind on the loosening of your muscles and organs.
Let your mind work throughout your body: start at your toes, up your legs, through your pelvis, abdomen, upper chest, down your arms, into your fingers and then back to your shoulders, neck and head.
Work through the body tensing each section for a few seconds and then releasing, allowing a deeper surrender to relaxation.
As you let your mind flow through the different parts of your body pause when your mind finds rigidity and stiffness.
Concentrate on softening that part of your body while taking in several deep breaths.
Hold the relaxation point as long as it feels comfortable.
The head has its own set of tension points.
The mouth needs to open slightly and take the tongue away from the roof of the mouth.
Release your jaw muscles and the back of your throat.
Once your mind moves to your eyes rest the strain.
Let your eyes sense the restfulness.
It can feel as if your eyes are sinking into your head.
This is a sign that you are giving them a break and releasing any tension in the muscles of your eyes.
Let the forehead loosen, ease the tightness.
Soften the skin on your face and your scalp.
Once each part of your body has physically relaxed it is time to stay as still as possible not letting the outside world in.
Focus on keeping the body still and releasing any further tension.
This act of concentrating will keep your thoughts inside yourself and further deepen the tranquility you are striving for.
Breathe deeply throughout this pose and keep your mind alert.
Observe any sensations that your body feels.
That is the feeling of stiffness loosening and anxiety easing.
Discharge your emotional tension as well while in this unrestricted state.
Give yourself permission to let go.
Your mind and body deserve it.
As you continue to deepen this relaxation your body will feel heavy as if it is sinking into the ground.
It is a very powerful force to relinquish anxiety and stress.
Your body will tell you when it is time to come out of this pose.
Your breathing will start to feel energized.
Your eyes will feel rested and your body will feel rejuvenated.
Roll on your side before you get up to avoid any unnecessary strain on your back.
Sit up for a couple of minutes relishing in the true feeling of bodily relaxation.
This pose can be done by anyone who can get down on the ground.
It is an excellent tension reliever that only takes about ten minutes but can wipe away years of stiffness and anxiety if practiced consistently.
This pose alone will improve your health.