by Julia Cherkinski

Do you usually skip relaxation in your own home  practice?

This week, see if you can add in some relaxation. For many people, this part of a class is their favorite part, but they skip it when at home, thinking the physical exertion of asana (poses) is the main point. This is not so. Together, asana and relaxation increase the benefit of your practice of yoga.

For me, staying for relaxation after doing asana (poses) was the hardest part to add into my own practice. But, when it is added, it ensures full benefit from your work. Even just sitting and being with the breath for one minute after your personal practice will add benefit.

If you already have a meditation practice, you can add meditation to the end of your practice, as a part of relaxation, to increase the benefit to your meditation and to your relaxation.

Yoga Sutra Book One: 14 – “Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, withoout break and in all earnestness.”

You can also see my post about practicing without break: http://coldwaterhaven.com/2012/01/06/without-break/

Pose of the Day: Savasana – Corpse Pose

Yogic Concept of the Day: It is good to relax after practice. Relaxing brings benefit.

Photo Credit: by Julia Cherkinski

http://www.flickr.com/photos/design-julia/6702755331/sizes/m/in/pool-685365@N25/