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On an audio tape entitled Salutation to the Sun by Annie Jones, Mansukh Patel takes us through a highly effective deep relaxation.
He invites the listener to begin this session first of all by lying down on a firm surface. Mansukh then advises finding a very comfortable position, as if relaxing the whole of your body onto the ground, and then gently begin to explore the sensation of contact that you have with the floor beneath you.
To Mansukh, it is worthwhile closing your eyes for a few moments so that the breathing can be relaxed and calm and tranquil. Mansukh explains that a relaxation exercise such as this one will bring you profound relaxation since it acts on the solar centre in our solar plexus. Mansukh talks about the fact that once your body has completely calmed down and the breathing rate has become harmonised, you will experience far greater harmony between the heart beat and your thoughts.
Once the eyes are closed Mansukh guides the listener to bring all the attention of the mind upon the breathing pattern within the region of the abdomen. With our eyes closed, focusing upon the abdomen, we can come in contact with the expansion of the body as we breath in and the gentle contraction of the body as we breath out.
Breathing in, expanding and breathing out, and gently relaxing within the centre of our being, Mansukh guides us to continue to do this for a few moments until you find a total synchrony and harmony between the body and the mind and the breath.
The breath itself, as Mansukh explains, is the gateway and a catalyst between the body and the mind. So gently as you breathe in allowing the breath to go down the body to the point of the solar plexus, bring all your attention and awareness to that point. And then see the rising and the expanding of the abdomen on the in breath. Gently and slowly, as you breath out through the nose keep the mouth closed all the time. We are invited by Mansukh to allow the body to relax and gently sink into an awareness of calm tranquillity. Breathing in, expanding, rising of the abdomen, and breathing out, relaxing and allowing the abdominal wall to relax upon itself. As we sink into this relaxation, allow the vibration of the in breath to gently free the energy of the solar centre.
Mansukh invites you to imagine the mighty sun giving off its rays in all direction from that solar centre. Your arms are relaxed by the side of your body, your legs are apart, your eyes are closed, and the breathing is gently harmonised by focusing your mind upon it. On an inbreath, Mansukh then takes the listener progressively deeper into the relaxation procedure stage by stage.
Let the whole of your become totally and completely peaceful. Your body is relaxed, your mind is calm, and you can begin to feel the great sun shining out from the solar plexus centre of my being recharging you, energising you, giving you strength, bringing your body health, empowering total discrimination in your mind, bringing creative thoughts into your mind.
Create positive, affirming thoughts to yourself along the following lines:
I am content and happy safe and totally trusting. So in this safe environment I acknowledge to myself that I am precious to myself in body mind and spirit. And I have something valuable to contribute to this creation and to this world. May I have no doubts and resistance to my own personal contribution to this world.
And with these high empowered thoughts and deep conviction, once again become aware of the breathing process within your abdomen.
Mansukh explains how the energisation is taking place now, and that every part of your physical being will start to awaken gently and slowly.
Once again, Mansukh invites us to continue placing our attention and focus upon the solar centre, bringing new life and energy into our abdomen, bringing sun rays, sun energy, creative energy, inspiring energy to travel up through the abdomen and the rib cage filling our arms and hands. Allowing that same energy, in a calm tranquil state, to travel up through the neck bringing new shine and a new radiance upon our face, upon our eyes, upon the creative mind.
Mansukh invites us to affirm that our intelligence is given an opportunity to flourish. The same energy travels from the solar centre through the spine from the base to the apex, recharging the nervous system, the endocrine system, the muscular system so that the whole of the physiology of the body becomes re-vitalised. Allow the rays of this rejuvenation to travel down from the abdomen into the pelvis, travelling into the right leg. Bring strength and the quality of endurance down the right leg. And then allow those radiant rays to travel down into the left leg.
Mansukh Patel advises that before we open our eyes, and before we feel the total effect of this relaxation and the power of this process, we should imagine ourselves as being newly created, just born, but with all the abilities, the energy, and all the ideas that we have always dreamt of.
See your body as healthy, fit, energetic and dynamic. Mansukh says we should give the mind the qualities of total discrimination, calmness, contentment and peace. And give your heart a dream vision of always expecting the best and the highest and that everything is going to go your way. Have total positivity that things are always going to turn out just right for us.
Mansukh invites you to affirm that every incident and every event is going to add strength and new opportunities to your life. And every person you meet and every interaction that takes place will be a step towards fulfilling all your dreams, all your ambitions and all your goals.
With this inspiring new reality you can begin to gently open your eyes. Move the fingers and move the toes. Become aware of the breathing, the heart beat and the life that flows through you and then finally become aware of the position of the body. And then allow the intuition of your body and the mind to guide you to do some simple movements, flexing the legs, moving the arms, stretching whatever feels right. Just allow those movements to take place over the next few minutes. Finally, allow your body to go into the recovery position, by turning over to the right hand side, and holding that recovery position for a few moments before you sit up. And now, according to Mansukh Patel, you are prepared and ready to face the day, and face the rest of your life.
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