Page 48 - NAMAH-Apr-2021

Notes on counselling

Apropos the heaviness factor in relaxation

Dr. Soumitra Basu

Abstract
One can only relax that part of the body that has been invested with consciousness and
joy. If that part can be identified, the subject can be trained to relax the other parts of the
body.

Progressive muscular relaxation is a unique It is important to feel the heaviness in a
technique for stress and anxiety. As one relaxes, sequential manner as the body starts relaxing
the body should initially feel heavy and warm from one part to progress to other parts. And
and then one feels a sense of weightlessness. it is an interesting phenomenon for it is not
There are variants of relaxation exercises where only therapeutically beneficial but is a pointer
also the same sequence of heaviness followed to the zone where one has to work both from
by the feeling of weightlessness occurs (for the psychological perspective and body-
example subjects may be told to feel the air consciousness. One can feel the heaviness
of the ceiling fan touching their whole body spontaneously only in that part of the body
and then suggested to feel the heaviness in that has been dealt with consciously and yet
the body). without any anxiety or stress!

For example, someone who had played
football with great enthusiasm or used to
have dancing lessons would spontaneously
feel the heaviness in the legs even if one had
left off playing football or practising dancing
years before (for the body per se has a unique
memory!). One who is happy to do computer
work or draw pictures or practice boxing
would at first feel the heaviness in the hands.
Teachers who love their profession and are
not stressed usually feel the heaviness in the

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