Settle Down

At the end of my practice today, I sat up and brought my hands to my heart and then something marvelous happened. It was as if a pressure valve was released and I just settled into my seat. I felt something happen at the base of my spine and the tension in my body magically dissolved. I smiled for the first time today (had a gloomy day). This moment reminded me of a recent discovery; the "down" part of settle down is actually really important and makes settling much easier to embody. If I consciously allow the weight of my body to settle down into my seat, I automatically feel more relaxed. It takes me out of my head and I can feel myself again. This works if you're standing or lying down too, just let your weight settle down into whatever is touching the ground. It's so simple and so powerful. I notice I do this a lot on my yoga mat, especially after a challenging pose or sequence. My brain and body have been working hard and settling down is like a mini restoration. But this is SO beneficial off the mat. Anytime I'm feeling anxious or angry or scattered or uptight, I "settle down" into whatever is touching the ground and my state instantly improves. Try it out and see what happens :)