Health aNd Fitness Guide

This is the third post in a series of Workout and Nutrition Tips by Jason Gremley.

While it is, of course, important to be active, it is equally important to relax. It really doesn’t matter what your goal is. Whether you’re trying to gain muscle or to lose weight, you can benefit from relaxing.

Health benefits of relaxation include lower blood pressure, greater energy, quicker healing, and better digestion. We are so often busy running around, both physically and in our own minds, that we forget to rest. Sometimes you will get the best results when you do nothing. Just quiet your mind, still your body, and enter the dimension of the present. This way you can receive your gift of rest. Don’t think about the past or look into the future. Just be in the present. Right here and now.

How do you begin? Just relax. Lie down on the floor on your back, palms facing up, with eyes closed. Breathe. Your only care in the world is to breathe. Forget the past and the future. Be completely still and relaxed. Breathe it, live it, believe it, see it. After meditation, you will feel rested and better able to deal with life’s stresses.

As you practice this for awhile you may want to explore different relaxation techniques such as yoga, which unites the mind, body, and spirit in exercise. Do what works for you. I meditate, do yoga, listen to music, and spend time in nature. As long as you are resting with an open heart and open mind, you will benefit from relaxation. Try it. Give yourself a break.