Rest and Relaxation
What is Rest?
The simple meaning of rest is that after work one sits or lies down to recuperate the energy lost during work. It is natural that one takes rest after day’s work. This removes the tiredness of body and gives peace to body and mind. Rest is not only of body. The body gets complete rest when besides giving rest to body the mind is also given rest. Often, we forget to give rest to the mind when we are giving rest to the body, and do mental work. Tension in the mind remains while we are lying down in bed. This is not real rest. If we watch sleeping a child, we would know how he really takes rest. How the child is relaxed with no worry to trouble him. This is the best form of rest. One should practice for few days to relax completely like a child, then he would do so habitually. In the language of Nature Cure this is known as ‘Curative Relaxation.’
Rest is needed whether a person is sick or in good health. Rest and laziness are not the same things. If after work one tries to recuperate the lost energy it is through rest. But when the body does not get the required rest it enhances the inactive condition of the body, and that is laziness. Laziness makes both mind and body inactive, but rest gives new energy to body and mind. A lazy person has no desire to do any work, but a person who takes rest is ever ready for work.
Many people believe that when a person goes to bed after day’s hard work that is rest. But this is not correct. There is difference between sleep and rest. Sleep is part of natural life process. Even if one does not do hard work he would sleep. On the other hand, we can take rest even when we are awake.
Why do we need rest?
Body needs as much rest as it needs food. If a person goes on working without any rest, he would be completely exhausted and would not survive after a few days. Even the railway engine, which is lifeless, needs rest. All the creatures in the world need rest. Even creation takes rest after the doomsday.
During rest all the senses and organs of the body are relaxed, and after rest the body and mind are fresh and charged with a new energy. One needs rest to regain energy lost during work. Nature gives us mute direction that we take rest after work, as day is followed by night. Those who are working at night in factories and mills are sacrificing their health and happiness. Many labors in coal mines are working up to 18 hours per day in unhealthy conditions. Rich industrialists also work day and night. While enjoying all the luxuries, they do not get enough rest and their health suffers.
Prevention of Diseases through Rest
The rising incidences of diseases now-a-days would go down if people only realized the importance of rest and knew how to take complete rest. It is because of weakness of nerves that one has Dyspepsia, Constipation, Insomnia, High blood pressure, Impotency and insanity. The nerves become weak when we constantly spend nervous energy. If we keep ourselves free from tension, we would not have the above diseases.
Just as after day’s work it is necessary to take rest. Similarly, after working for several days, it is necessary to take rest from work. Similarly, in one year, employees are given leave for a few weeks in which they may take rest. In western countries during these vacations people go to tourist spots in large numbers and take complete rest combined with entertainment. In India also this system is growing. In summer people go to hill stations where they breath fresh air and take rest or go to sight-seeing.
If we know the art of taking rest periodically, we can prevent many diseases, which afflict us. One should know the art of taking rest during work and after work. Many people take tea or smoke during work to get over tiredness. But this is wrong and harmful. The habit of thinking while laying in bed is also bad. We must learn the art of complete relaxation, either for a short time during work or for a longer period when we go to bed.
Treatment of Diseases through Rest
Dr. William Walter has written: “Patients in my ward keep on sleeping in veranda. I cure them by giving rest. I have cured thousands of patients through this system.” Another western doctor, Dr. Hard has said, “The reason why a patient is cured by laying in the open in a clean environment is that while in sitting or standing position the gravity causes a particular type of blood circulation, but while lying down the pressure on organs get rest and the vital force increases. The increased vital force cures the disease.”
For a patient it is necessary that he gets complete rest. Just complete rest cures many diseases and helps in the treatment of other diseases. Those patients who do not know how to take rest, take a long time to get well. Those who are worried, fearful, angry or scared do not get rid of their disease soon.
The root cause of all diseases is tiredness. As long as our blood vessels are working normally, all our organs maintain their flexibility. This is the real shape of healthy organs. But when foreign matter is deposited in the organs, they become hard. This is the cause of disease in those organs. It is said, “Mobility is life, Rigidity is death.” When there is hardness in any part of the body there would be swelling. After that, there would be pain and then fever. If in this state of swelling that part of body gets rest and there is proper blood circulation, gradually foreign matter deposited there would be removed and pain would go away.
Those who do not take proper rest when they are in good health are forced to do so by nature by making them sick. Nature forces us to take rest.
Ordinary ways of taking Rest and Relaxation
For ordinary people there are several ways of taking rest. One should select one out of them according to one’s inclination and circumstances.
- After returning from work, one should spread a mat on floor or hard bed and lie down on his back. All parts of the body should be relaxed. One should not keep thinking while lying down. The mind should be completely without thoughts. Eyes should be closed, but one should not go to sleep. Remain like this for 10 to 15 minutes.
- After work play an interesting game
or engage yourself in your hobby.
- Those who are working hard through
out the year should take vacation and go for pilgrimage or to any place of
rest.
- Once a week, after six days hard
work, go outside for a picnic.
- According to one western doctor the
way to relax the muscles of other is as follows: lie on the back. Gradually
contract the muscles of a particular limb, for example of arm or leg, at the
same time try to feel the contraction till they are completely relaxed.
Similarly, the muscles of other limbs are also relaxed.
Yogic Relaxation (Yog Nidra)
Scientific relaxation is the important part of Hathyoga. By yogic relaxation many ailments are removed and a person becomes energetic. Two asanas are made use of for yogic relaxation, one is Shavasana and the other Prana Dharan.
Through Shavasana a person looks like “shava” or dead body. All the muscles are so relaxed that a person looks dead. This asana is always done after doing yogasana.
How to do Yogic Relaxation (Yog Nidra)?
Spread a blanket on a plain ground or floor. Lie down on it on the back. Keep both arms slightly away from the body, the palms facing upwards. Both legs should be separated with a distance of 18 to 20 inches between the heels. The toes should be uncovered. Now close the eyes and lips gently and relax the entire body. Breathes slowly and relax the mind by not thinking of anything in particular. This asana should be done for five minutes. Do not fall asleep during the asana.
Shavasana is very beneficial. It gives rest to the body which is charged with fresh energy. The entire nervous system gets rest and the vital force increases. One feels more enthusiastic and the work he is doing does not appear to be so burdensome.
After a person has learnt how to relax completely through shavasana, he can benefit from the second asana called “Prana Dharan”. In this asana while one is lying down in shavasana, he gently concentrates on the process of inhalation and exhalation. While he breathes slowly and establishes harmony in the process of inhalation and exhalation. This has good effect on the entire respiratory system in the body. This gives rest to heart and lungs and relaxes them, while relaxing all the muscles and organs in the body.
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