When we do aerobic workout such as running, biking, gym or power yoga, we release energy and increase the blood circulation, changing the chemistry in the body and as result we feel better. But in many cases the reaction afterward is an abrupt energy drop or "sudden" injury in a specific area. The reason for this, most of the time, is us asking for too much from the body.

Our lifestyle doesn't allow the nervous system real deep relaxation. Even when we think we're relaxing in front of the TV, reading a book or sleeping, the body is relaxed but the nervous system stays tense. Our nervous system absorbs impressions from our daily activity and without conscious release it stays in high tension state.

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​How to train to "talk" with the nervous system?

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There is a tight connection between our nervous system and the fascia, the connective tissue. In different types of training we mostly concentrate on the muscles. It is what moves us, they produce the movement while the fascia absorbs it. The fascia holds and stabilizes the muscles, it is the counter force that stops and returns the muscle like a spring. Muscles consume energy and they can get tired, the fascia doesn't consume energy and it is stronger than the muscles. In it located most of our mobility sensors, and they transmit the muscle state, energy levels and the inner stress to the brain. When the fascia is dried up, tense or doesn't function properly, the stress goes to the muscles and the body is working harder to perform any activity. If we want to refuel the energy reservoir of the body, we need to allow deep relaxation to both the body and the mind. A little bit like pressing the reset button on the computer.  

 

Work without effort

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It is very hard to explain how one can workout without effort. Pain and effort are part of our life and part of working with the body and one cannot escape them completely. But it is important to pay attention and intention to passive work and relaxation. If you consistently  practice yoga you know the workout changes with time. Energy levels may go high or drop, for example during the full and new moon, during menstruation, injuries or trauma.

Restorative poses are passive poses during which the body position doesn't change and we hold them for longer periods of time. We don't work from tension or active effort, to get somewhere, but we let the breath flow freely and the gravity affect the body. There is no effort or ambition to achieve active stretch or some range of motion. The emphasis is on staying for long periods of time so the nervous system can release it's inner pattern. The challenge in this kind of workout is to stay concentrated on the breath without letting the mind take over. 

Moshe Feldenkrais build his workout  system on series of segments. After each segment there is a break, couple of minutes long. During this time body doesn't move and the mind is directed towards conscious relaxation. In this type of rest the body absorbs what it learned during the workout and implements, unlike during sleep.