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Dancer's Health A Medical Resource - The Art of Relaxation


by: Minea (Nov 24 2011)

The Art of Relaxation
By Minea

Perhaps some of have heard from our Mothers or Grandmothers that we should sleep a lot to become beautiful. Of course sleeping at least 7 hours is necessary to be able to concentrate in our work, study or even in dance performance. Before we get to sleep it can be helpful to relax and to let our thoughts go away.

How can I/you be our own therapist?

From our summer holiday let us collect from our memory the best landscapes. Many people like imaging during relaxation technique: a beach, a sea or the creatures deep in the sea. Others prefer a meadow with a watercourse, or a pathway that goes into a forest or up into the mountains. Children also like to imagine wild animals and discovering a cave inside.

People who have problems with sleeping, can imagine a spiral staircase that goes into a garden where there may be many beautiful flowers and then can imagine sleeping in the shade of a tree. For people who have to perform, for example in a competition, it can be useful to imagine a stage, as we do everything perfectly.  Then further, with the stage lights on us, and everybody clapping, enjoying our performance and then finally congratulating us. We can imagine the good feelings and that so many people (including ourselves) like the performance/show.

Also, by correct breath technique, we can achieve a meditative state, for example we can imagine pink air during our exhalation.

We often need some advice when we have an actual problem. As C. G. Jung also did, let’s imagine a person, who we can ask our guestions. He or she can also be a wise person who know or have read about or even an angel.

How we can chill out easily?

Step 1: find a calm position sitting or laying, and close your eyes
Step 2: listen to calm music or be silent
Step 3: relax the muscles of the face, the eyes, the forehead, and the mouth
Step 4: relax the neck, shoulders, arms, back, stomach and legs. If it is difficult, try to flex the muscle/s and then relax them
Step 5: count our breath, as in, 1,2,3 in and 1,2,3,4 out
Step 6: plug into that favorite image from your happy holiday, and try to imagine as many details as you can. Use your imagination!
Step 7: Slowly try to come back to the first image, then stretch your arms and legs and open our eyes.

Try to use this relaxation technique to be self-assured, energetic and feel beautiful every day!