March 13
“There is no wrong way to relax, except the use of chemicals.” – Maxwell Maltz, M.D.
Here’s a snippet from my forthcoming book, Psycho-Cybernetics 365, which will be published in August.
Sleeping, napping, relaxing on your sofa or on a chair at the beach, all of these are valid forms of relaxation.
So is driving around in a car, pedaling a bicycle, going for a walk in the woods, practicing martial arts or your favorite sport, painting, gardening, or putting together a jigsaw puzzle.
Now, you might look at some of these activities and think that’s no way to relax. But for someone else, the activity gets the job done. Anything that slows you down and allows your thoughts to run freely is of benefit as our subconscious mind does a great deal of creative work when we focus on something else.
One of the many activities I have engaged in to relax more deeply is the sport of bowling. When I stand before the line, I have learned to organize my physical structure so that I am energized. Then I tune into my breathing as I visualize throwing a strike, or pitching the ball to the ideal arrow that will give me a good result.
I have done the same on the basketball court, where I stand on the free throw line and shoot, using the tools of relaxing, breathing, and visualizing.
Of course, as suggested in Psycho-Cybernetics, you can sit in a chair or lie on your bed to practice the art of relaxation, and I recommend you do.
Likewise, I also advise the use of many other relaxation tools, so you learn to let go of unnecessary tension at any time, with your eyes open or closed.
Matt Furey