________________
. V
Benefits of Relaxation
Any wise person, before undertaking an exercise, will think about its result. A practitioner (being wise) will also do the same. He would like to know what are the benefits accruing from the exercise of relaxation. It is a reasonable expectation. Many benefits on various levels accrue from this exercise. In this chapter we shall discuss briefly what one may expect to get on physical, mental and spiritual levels. In particular, we shall discuss :
(i) Relief from tensions, (ii) Concentration, (iii) Development of “Knowing and Seeing', (iv) Realization of spiritual self, and (v) Development of wisdom.
Four Stages
In the first stage of relaxation, one learns to keep still and stop all voluntary movements. The turmoil due to restlessness vanishes and an acute sense of relaxation and relief from tension is experienced. There is some improvement in psychosomatic diseases such as hypertension and in due course this becomes measurable.
In the second stage of relaxation some further benefits accrue :
* *
There is soothing effect on the nervous system. Changes in the electric activity of the nervous system and brain take place (soothing alpha waves may be produced at will).
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