The Ancient Antitdote To Modern Stress

[Guest guest]

Please consider this free-reprint article written by:

VanEs

==================

IMPORTANT - Publication/Reprint Terms

- You have permission to publish this article electronically in

free-only publications such as a website or an ezine as long as

the bylines are included.

- You are not allowed to use this article for commercial

purposes. The article should only be reprinted in a publicly

accessible website and not in a members-only commercial site.

- You are not allowed to post/reprint this article in any

sites/publications that contains or supports hate, violence,

porn and warez or any indecent and illegal sites/publications.

- You are not allowed to use this article in UCE (Unsolicited

Commercial Email) or SPAM. This article MUST be distributed in

an opt-in email list only.

- If you distribute this article in an ezine or newsletter, we

ask that you send a copy of the newsletter or ezine that

contains the article to tokreate@...

- If you post this article in a website/forum/blog, ALL links

MUST be set to hyperlinks and we ask that you send a copy of

the URL where the article is posted to tokreate@...

- We request that you ask permission from the author if you

want to publish this article in print.

The role of iSnare.com is only to distribute this article as

part of its Article Distribution feature (

http://www.isnare.com/distribution.php ). iSnare.com does NOT

own this article, please respect the author's copyright and

this publication/reprint terms. If you do not agree to any of

these terms, please do not reprint or publish this article.

==================

Article Title: The Ancient Antitdote To Modern Stress

Author: VanEs

Word Count: 796

Article URL:

http://www.isnare.com/?id=6458 & ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet

Format: 64cpl

Author's Email Address: tokreate@...

Easy Publish Tool: http://www.isnare.com/html.php?id=6458

================== ARTICLE START ==================

Anyone who has ever taken a yoga class will tell you that

perhaps the most important as well as the most enjoyable

posture is the final relaxation pose at the end of class which

is known as Shavasana. Shavasana, which translates to “corpse

pose” is a time when the body and mind quiet and the door to

stillness, peace and inner healing is opened. The benefits of

Shavasana are many including reduced stress, deep relaxation,

balanced emotions, lower blood pressure, helpful for insomnia

and leaves the practitioner feeling renewed and refreshed as if

they have had a min-vacation for body and mind. And I would be

remiss if I didn’t say Shavasana just feels good! It is here –

in this deep state of relaxation, where natural healing on all

levels can occur.

“The stresses of modern civilization are a strain on the nerves

for which Shavasana is the best antidote.” BKS Iyengar in Light

on Yoga.

To experience shavasana come onto your back – preferably on the

floor but a firm bed can work as well. Your legs should be

approximately hip width apart, allowing your feet to drop to

the sides. Bring your arms to 45% to your body with the palms

facing up and your head neck and spine into one line. Let your

breath deepen and feel the support of the floor under you –

releasing into it. Draw your consciousness deep inside. Remain

here for ten to twenty minutes. To come out of the posture take

a few deep breaths and then begin to wiggle your fingers and

toes. Gently roll your head from side to side. Feel free to

stretch your body in anyway that might feel good to you now.

Then roll to your right side into a fetal position. Rest here

for a moment. Then very slowly press up to a seated position

with the help of your right and left hands. Sit for a moment

with your eyes closed and then slowly open your eyes looking

down at the floor. Before beginning shavasana, please read the

rest of this article for helpful tips to enrich your

experience.

The more relaxed your body is the quieter your mind can become.

To deepen your experience of Shavasana, I have listed a few

suggestions for deepening your comfort, quieting your mind and

for addressing special challenges.

For deepening your comfort:

Eye Pillows: Placing an eye pillow over your eyes is soothing,

helps to relax the muscles around your eyes, and sends a strong

message to your brain to relax. Eye pillows can also be placed

on your forehead or into your hands, which gives a feeling of

grounding and relaxation.

Blankets: Essentially anywhere your body touches the floor is a

candidate for support and as a result will help you relax. You

might wish to experiment with the following suggestions:

Arms: Place folded blankets under the length of your arms.

Back: Fold a blanket the length of your spine and place a

second blanket horizontally across one end of the blanket

making a letter “T”. Sit a the edge of the vertical blanket so

that when you lay back your sacrum (the bony part of your spine

between your hips) is on the floor, your lower back and spine on

the blanket, and your head supported by the horizontal blanket.

Heels: Slightly rolled blanket can be placed under your

Achilles tendons.

Suggestions for special challenges in Shavasana:

Lower back challenges: Place a rolled blanket, pillow or

bolster under your knees.

Neck challenges: Place a folded blanket under your head or a

rolled towel under your neck.

Pregnancy: Raise your torso by placing a bolster, pillows or

two to three folded blankets under your back and be sure to

support your head with another folded blanket. (If you are

using blankets under your back should run the length of your

spine from your lower back to the tip of your head) Another

option is lay on your right side in fetal position with a

folded blanket between your knees. Place a folded blanket under

your head for support.

For an agitated/active mind: Place a yoga block or a thick book

behind your head and put a sandbag on it so that 1/3 of the

sandbag is on your forehead. This helps to quiet your mind.

Also focus on making your exhalations longer than your

inhalations. (Note: a homemade sandbag can be made by filling a

soft pillow case with rice approximately ¼ way and tying it

off.)

You may also wish to place a blanket over you, as you body will

cool down when relaxed.

About The Author: VanEs, M.A. has been studying and

practicing yoga for over thirteen years and is a certified yoga

instructor teaching in the East Bay area of San Francisco. He is

author of " Beginning Yoga: A Practice Manual " , co-creator of the

audio CD " Shavasana / Deep Relaxation " .

http://www.letsdoyoga.com info@... 510-587-3399

================== ARTICLE END ==================

For more free-reprint articles by VanEs please visit:

http://www.isnare.com/?s=author & a=+VanEs