Why Relaxation is Essential for Revitalizing Your Soul

When was the last time you took a moment or two to simply relax? Do you find yourself moving at full speed throughout your day, rarely slowing down to catch your breath?

The society that we live in deeply values productivity and material gain, but we often forget that rest and relaxation are a crucial element in success. It is impossible to get where you want to be in life if you neglect your mental, physical, and emotional needs.

While you may receive admiration -even accolades - for your hard work, you won’t be able to truly enjoy any success or forward momentum if you don’t learn how to take a break and allow your body to recuperate. However, it can be difficult to convince yourself that relaxation is just as important as hard work, especially when our culture places the emphasis on pushing rather than rewarding yourself.

This guide will act as a gentle nudge towards a well-balanced life that includes not only ambition and focus, but the wisdom to allow yourself to take a break when you need it.

Why Is Relaxation Important?

Your body is the vessel that carries you through life, and it deserves to be treated with care and respect. On top of that, your body cannot perform like you would prefer if it’s tired or burnt out. Relaxation is not only therapeutic, but it also contributes to the body’s health.

1. It Can Lower Your Blood Pressure

In fact, taking a moment or two each day to fully relax your body can lower your blood pressure by up to ten points. It costs nothing, there are no side effects, and it only takes a few minutes a day. One study, performed by researchers with the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine, found that 32% of the participants who tried their stress management technique were “able to eliminate one blood pressure medication and still keep their blood pressure under control.”

Given the fact that medication can be quite pricey, it seems learning to relax can also save you money!

2. It Can Reduce Stress & Promote Happiness

Relaxation can also reduce stress and alleviate some of the strain that we feel when our mental health issues like depression and anxiety flare-up.

Relaxing can also lower your heart rate, improve concentration, promote positive moods, reduce fatigue, calm anger, eliminate frustration, and boost confidence.

3. It Can Help You Sleep Better

Do you ever lay down for bed only to find your mind racing with thoughts? Relaxation techniques reduce anxiety, one of the biggest enemies of deep, restful sleep. With so many challenges that we’ve collectively faced this year, it’s no wonder that many people are struggling with insomnia.

When your body is full of anxiety and nervous energy, it’s not only harder to fall asleep, but it can also be just as hard to stay asleep throughout the night. When you make relaxation a part of your daily life, you’ll soon find yourself sleeping like a baby more each night. And when your body is getting enough time to relax as well as restful sleep, there’s nothing you can’t do.

If this applies to you, you’ll be happy to know that relaxation leads to better sleep and more meaningful rest.

4. It Can Help You Connect To Your Soul Purpose

Are you a spiritual person seeking wisdom in life?

Relaxation can connect you to spiritual guides that will gently nudge you towards your chosen path. Meditation in particular can help raise your body’s vibrations, giving you access to the guides that resonate on higher vibrations. Maintaining a connection with your spiritual guides will help you feel like you’re following your fate, instilling confidence, and allowing you to trust your own intuition.

The Soul's Connection to Relaxing

Do you feel connected to your soul? The soul is a mysterious thing, something that we know exists within all of us, but that we can’t see it or even feel it sometimes. Your soul is the core of you, the part of you that exists beyond space and time. Connecting to your soul can make this journey on Earth feel more exciting and enjoyable than ever.

Relaxation techniques such as meditation and yoga help you meet your soul face-to-face by clearing negative and distracting thoughts from your spirit. Setting your intention to meet your soul during these practices makes it even easier for this union to take place.

Relaxing With Yoga & Meditation

Yoga promotes full relaxation of the body and mind in a few different ways. Yoga helps us accept reality as it is by teaching patience and acceptance. Suffering is a natural part of life that we must learn to accept – and if you’ve ever maintained Warrior pose for more than a minute at a time, you know that some amount of suffering and pain is involved. But think about how refreshed and relaxed you feel after a deep yoga session.

The challenges that we experience in life have the same effect – they feel unbearable at the time, and yet we grow and learn so much from these experiences.

Yoga also encourages connection. When you stretch deep into yogic poses, you’re connecting the body and the mind, and you’re helping your spirit connect more to the energy of the Universe. This connection also deepens your contact with your soul.

Meditation is another practice that helps the soul find stillness and peace. Just a few minutes of meditation can help you gain a new perspective, practice self-awareness, eliminate negativity, focus on the present moment, amplify creativity, and promote patience. While it may take some time to get comfortable with the silence and stillness of meditating, it’s free and anyone can do it.

Once you get the hang of it, you’ll never want to go another day without a moment of meditation again.

Read next: Why is Mindfulness So Difficult? (& What to Do About It)

Your Soul Is Where Healing Takes Place

When we feel relaxed, it’s much easier for us to connect to and perceive the energy of our souls. Your soul knows that there are karmic lessons you must learn and heal from in this life; and connecting to your soul helps you gain more from these experiences.

We all have challenges in our life that can hold us back from growth and transformation. When you’re relaxed and connected to your soul, you’re able to locate the feelings surrounding these challenges and release them, allowing you to move on.

5 Ways to Relax Your Soul

Beyond yoga and meditation, there are many ways to relax throughout the day, allowing your soul to blossom and act as your own personal guide. Let’s take a look at a few techniques that are easy to practice and will leave you feeling calm and rested.

1. Deep Breathing

Slow, deep breaths are one of the easiest ways to relax the body and the mind. If you find yourself feeling stressed out or frazzled, try taking ten deep, slow breaths in and out. When you’re finished, reevaluate how your body feels – if you aren’t feeling calmer and more peaceful, repeat the exercise.

Try this: A Breathwork for Positivity & Peace

2. Take a Bubble Bath

When was the last time you lit a few candles, put on some ambient music, and soaked in a warm, healing bubble bath? The stillness and calm are healing alone, but the warm water also allows your muscles to relax and release tension. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils and place healing crystals along the edge of the bathtub for an even deeper healing experience.

Don’t know how to get started? Why not try a bath meditation?

3. Put Your Headphones On & Rock Out

Have you ever been having a rotten day only to perk up when you hear your favorite song on the radio? Music can change the way we feel, and listening to or creating music can absolutely promote relaxation.

Whether you prefer Enya or Metallica, listening to your favorite songs can help you let go of negativity and focus on what makes you happy.

So let’s get moving! Here are 5 Uplifting Songs to Rock Out To.

4. Write it Down

Sometimes our thoughts and feelings seem too personal or even dark to share with others, which is where writing comes in. Writing your thoughts and feelings out can seem intimidating or exhausting at first – after all, there are feelings that we may not want to confront at the moment.

Once the stress is out and resting on paper, they’re not quite so bothersome. If you have something on your mind that’s causing you stress, grab a notebook and a pen, and let the emotions flow out of you.

You got this: How to Get Past Day 1 of Journaling.

5. Be Creative

Self-expression acts as an incredible healing outlet, and engaging your creativity reminds yourself that you’re a talented individual with excellent ideas. It doesn’t matter what medium you use – you can draw, paint, build, write, create music, or whatever your heart desires.

The simple act of allowing your creativity to express itself will help the body, the mind, and the soul relax.

Begin today: Let’s find your new creative outlet!

Conclusion

Relaxation is not only important for the body and the mind, but it’s important for the soul. On top of the healing aspects of relaxation, you deserve to take time for yourself. Denying yourself the gift of rest and relaxation means denying yourself the healing energy that you need to follow your dreams.

So, start today. Take a few moments to meditate or stretch or sit in silence – whatever brings relaxation to your spirit. You’ll feel refreshed and ready to take on the world!

Need to unwind and unplug? Start a Social Media Detox this season.