Some people quickly build tension in their shoulders when they are under stress, while others find that the jaw or lower back are the culprits. Some of us distribute the tension throughout the body in a mix and match of aches and tenderness. Recently, I wrote an article entitled “Yoga Cues: Listening to Your Body” which talked about the importance of awareness. One of the ways that yoga reveals these stockpiles of tension is by encouraging us to take a moment to feel what is going on inside. When you pay attention, you can feel the tiny variations in the body – good and bad. Yoga can also reveal tension in a less obvious way; try comparing the way you felt before your practice to how you feel afterward.
Many people don’t even realize that they are storing tension at all. The face is a breeding ground for unintentional, furrowed foreheads and pursed lips. Just sitting quietly for a few moments, breathing, can often reveal some of these stress hideouts. With eyes closed, you can scan the body from head to toe trying to soften and relax the muscles just by thinking about them. Reversing the exercise can be a more deliberate way to unload tension. Try tensing up the muscles throughout the body (even closing the hands into fists). Build the tension up as you inhale. As you exhale, slowly release the muscles one at a time. If you are going to try the tension building exercise, then go ahead to a supine (face up, lying on the back) position.
The stretches and poses that are part of practicing yoga do more than just release tension from the muscles. This physical work also builds strength in the areas where one is weakest. For example, if you find that you get a lot of lower back tension, then the abdominal and lower back exercises like Boat and Locust will make you stronger and less prone to the tension in the first place.
Related articles:
Yoga Cues: Listening to Your Body