Why relaxation isn't enough

The Importance of balancing relaxation and energising practices.

Over the past decades, we’ve heard so much about the damaging effects of chronic stress that we tend to focus solely on relaxation as the way to improve our wellbeing. Of course, knowing how to relax is essential, but it is equally important to learn how to mindfully ‘energise’ our systems.

Stress: The Bad Guy?

Research about the impact of stress started with Hans Selye. The "father of stress" put poor lab mice under various physical, antigenic, and environmental stressors like excessive exercise, starvation, and extreme temperatures and found out that regardless of the type of stress they faced, the mice displayed similar physical symptoms. Their thymus gland was damaged and they developed ulcers. He concluded in the 1930s that humans exposed to prolonged stress could also suffer breakdowns in their hormonal system, potentially leading to conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure.

Relaxation: The Good Guy?

Have you ever done a nice relaxing yoga or Breathwork session? Isn’t it great to unwind, recharge, and feel like a marshmallow on a hot chocolate? No wonder why relaxation modalities are so popular. Relaxing feels so good but in fact, learning to relax isn’t just nice. It is essential so our body can truly rest and recover.

Regular relaxation helps to reduce the levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline in the body. It reduces anxiety and depression as we have a chance to unwind, process emotions, and gain perspective on challenging situations. We sleep better, digest better and most of us have a more productive and focused life - I say ‘most of us’ as some people say they are more productive when under pressure.

I could add a few items to the list of benefits, such as better relationships, improved overall quality of life etc.

Balancing the Two

But is relaxation enough?

I don’t think so. I noticed how some of my students get ‘stuck’ in the relaxation mode. They love slow relaxing breathing techniques but feel really uncomfortable when we practise more energising breaths.

But let’s face it. Stressful situations happen! Whether it’s the stress of driving at rush hours, bad news, unexpected difficulties… All these situations are potential trigger for the release of stress hormones in our body. If we are not used to facing such challenges, we can easily become overwhelmed when sensations we associate with stress come up in our body.

This is why I regularly incorporate energising practices into my classes. While relaxation nurtures our ability to cope with acute stress, energising practices build resilience. The more we practise, the more we start to enjoy feeling ‘adrenalised’. It’s a bit like reigniting the fire within.

The key lies in finding a balance between relaxing and energising practices. So, let's embrace relaxation to find inner peace, while also embracing energising yoga & Breathing techniques that help us thrive in the busy world we live in and build ready for any challenge!

See you on the mat