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the sensation of gravity. Do not fight against the force of gravity, let it pull at your trunk and limbs which become heavier and heavier. Let the shoulders sink down. When the whole body has become relaxed, there is an acute perception of the state of relaxation which is no longer auto-suggestion but a real experience. Once this stage is reached, the body is forgotten and the consciousness reveals its separate existence.
What is the physiological mechanism behind this feeling? As we have seen, while the muscles were being relaxed progressively, less and less current flew in the connecting motor nerves, giving them a chance to rest. Ultimately, the whole motor mechanism became passive and reposed. This was followed by their counterparts, the sensory nerves which are responsible for transmitting sensations to the brain. Thus, while conscious self was quite wakeful and alert, the bodyphysical self--was gradually becoming bereft of consciousness, giving a realistic experience of the detachment of the nonmaterial consciousness from its material counterpart. Total relaxation is characterized by an actual experience of floating outside one's body, and this is definitely not auto-suggestion or hypnosis but realisation of a real fact.
Reverting to the physiological shell, almost all the nervecells are revitalized. They are enjoying a much needed recess period, free from the burden of controlling the household chores of movements and transmission of sensations to the brain. No wonder, then, that a short period of relaxation can invigorate more effciently that a long period of restless sleep. And this brings up a question of relationship between relaxation and sleep. It must be quite clear from the above that going to sleep while practising relaxation is quite contrary to the purpose of the exercise. Relaxation may, however, be practised before going to sleep ending in peaceful slumber.
Physical relaxation is precondition for the psychical relaxation which is dealt with in another section of this book. When the relaxation exercise is over, you have to recall the muscles and nerves to their normal state of work
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