Relaxation and meditation videos
During March and April, lots of us recognized the need to relax our brains and our bodies. As restrictions ease and life becomes busier again (but with the added stresses that 2020 has thrown at all of us), this remains important. We are re-entering physical communities that are changed, possibly forever, and for many of us this experience is going to be tricky. A relaxation and/or meditation practice is one way to calm nerves, slow down before bed, release anxiety - and lots of other good stuff too!
There are lots of great videos and apps to help with both relaxation and meditation. Here are three videos that I shared on the Facebook page during lockdown. Each takes a very different approach, but they are all fantastic for when you don’t feel like moving much or raising your heart rate. And because they don’t require much movement, they can be done almost anywhere! You might like to try working through one of these videos during a middle-of-the-day slump, to see how it affects your mental clarity. Or first thing, on those mornings where getting going seems impossible. Or on a rainy day where the sofa seems like the only safe space … so many possibilities.
1) Mindful breathing with Epworth
This five-minute breathing exercise from Epworth is audio only, so perfect for when you don’t want to be looking at a screen. You can do the practice seated or lying down. There is no music, just simple verbal instructions about how to observe your body’s breathing process. The comments below this video include "the fastest five minutes of my life", and I fully agree!
Even if you normally feel a bit daunted by meditation and mindfulness exercises, take five minutes to sit or lie somewhere comfy and give this a try.
2) Hand massage with HM Massage
This four-and-a-half-minute video from https://www.facebook.com/OfficialHMM (n.b. that’s per hand - so you need nine minutes!) will help ease dry skin, arthritis and keyboard tension. But for me the physical benefits to my hands are secondary to the mental benefits of sitting down and focusing the mind and body on one process for nine minutes. It’s long enough to really work through the hands and also find some mental peace, without being so long that it feels like a ‘task’.
The video footage is really clear so you could choose to mute the sound if you prefer. You'll need hand cream or massage oil, and it's probably best to have a towel nearby too. When you're done, take a few slow breaths before continuing with your day.
3) Bed yoga with Sleepy Santosha
This nine-minute gem from Sleepy Santosha is perfect for moments when you want to stretch but know that a seated or standing practice would not be beneficial. Rachel specializes in yoga for chronic illness, but her clear, calm approach to movement makes her videos a wonderful treat for all of us, especially on days when a more ‘enthusiastic’ YouTuber would, frankly, be annoying.
You can do this sequence in bed (actually under the covers, if you skip the ‘legs in the air’ pose), and the only optional prop is cushions or blocks for a supine butterfly, which Rachel cues you to use. In fact, Rachel's verbal instructions are so clear, and the practice so accessible, that I have no other suggestions for modifications!
If you liked one of these practitioners, please follow them on social media or sign up for their newsletters. It’s great to learn from others who are committed to making yoga accessible. And let me know if you’d like me to share more videos in any of these styles or incorporate them into our classes together.
Enjoy taking time to breathe today. Both physically and mentally!