Calming down with a face/head massage and Yoga Nidra (but not at the same time!)

If only relaxing felt easy at the moment.  Relaxing feels like something I have to actually remember to do!  But I can feel a sense of calm return as soon as I engage my parasympathetic nervous system.  To help do this, I am planning some relaxation "boosts" to support me through the ups and downs of the day.  Maybe I'm not super chilled at every moment (I wish) but I can build in chunks of relaxation.

Having had two days of painful headaches in the week and back pain that has flared up, I'm feeling a little less robust than normal.  With the headaches and nausea, I found myself thinking maybe this could be the start of the virus?  That led to a few hours of stress hoping/praying that no more symptoms develop.  How I long for the days when I could just have a headache and know that it was hormonal or from too much dark chocolate.  Now it becomes entwined with a pandemic.

Definitely time for some calm to return!  First stop for a relaxation boost - I booked a face and head massage with my friend Louise (a talented nutrition coach and holistic therapist).  Before you wonder, yes on Zoom.  Rather than relaxing on a massage table at a health spa, I got to curl up in a comfy chair in my lounge.  Louise talked me through and demonstrated points of the face and different strokes.  Meanwhile I easily copied them using my own, not quite so skilled, hands.

The massage strokes felt surprisingly calming and soothing.  Hearing Louise's reassuring voice added to the relaxation.  We ended the session with a short head massage and I felt ready for a nap.  So far my headache hasn't come back either (also remembering to drink more fluids and eat less dark chocolate).  You can find more information at www.louiseyounghealth.com



Second stop for a relaxation boost- yoga nidra.  For people unfamiliar with this, it is translated as "yogic sleep".  It is a form of guided relaxation which is very gentle and accessible to everyone.  Often in a yoga class, this would be saved to the very end of the class.  But you can enjoy this guided relaxation without any posture work first.    There are hundreds of recorded yoga nidra and apps available to download.  I am trying out "Daring to Rest Yoga Nidra" which kindly have free downloads at this time.

To practise, lie on a bed or yoga mat and cover yourself with a warm blanket.  Then press play and let your mind follow the guided process.  You will be invited to focus on parts of the body moving from side to side.  Some yoga nidra then suggest peaceful images such as the sun setting, a deserted beach then a temple at dawn.  It moves fairly quickly to give the mind something to concentrate on and helps to keep us in the present moment.  Numerous benefits of yoga nidra include better sleep, reduced stress levels and can improve mood.

At the start of our social distancing time, I received a numerous emails about yoga nidra.  I read about yoga teachers practising this guided relaxation each day during the pandemic.  Back then, I wondered how on earth are they managing to relax when we need to work out how to get food, clean door handles, use Zoom and rearrange our lives?  My tendency to plan, organise and be busy has been noticeable so far in this pandemic, in mindfulness terms known as the "doing mode".  

But now I get it.  The deep sense of relaxation that yoga nidra gives us is powerful and restorative.  For this allocated time I get to pause and relax, known in mindfulness as the "being mode".    If I can include this every few days I am adding a relaxation boost to my week.  Even my busy mind can actually settle and follow the guided sequence (on a good day!).  And it reminds me that it is okay to rest a little in these uncertain, challenging times.  I'm sure my body and mind are thanking me for it.










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