Relaxing the Body, Relaxing the Mind

“Can you perform your daily activities with a relaxed body and mind?"

 

Part One: Relaxing the Body

 Another creative practice is the art of relaxation.  In zen-cuisine this means relaxing both our body, and mind before we start cooking.  We tell ourselves, “Just relax”, and this sounds like a simple first step. But sometimes, we forget, or we don’t take the time to relax. If we aren’t mindful, we tend to work in the kitchen in a tense and hurried fashion, perhaps remembering to relax after the food is prepared and ready for the table. This unbalanced way of cooking contributes to our feeling tired or being less than happy in the kitchen.  If we relax our body and mind before we start, our entire experience is enjoyable. What does zen-cuisine suggest? First, make a firm intention to practice the art of mindful cooking. Suppose you intend to joyfully create a nutritious, flavorful meal?  This objective sets you going in right direction. 

Here is a wonderful body relaxation to begin with.  Stand in an easy, upright posture. Make certain the body is well-balanced, feet planted comfortably with knees slightly bent. Begin by focusing awareness on the breath. With each inhalation slowly fill the body with life-giving energy; on the exhalation, feel the body making space for new energies. Open to the in-flow of energy, then consciously breathe out, relaxing into spaciousness with the whole body  After a few moments, allow the breath to settle into its natural, gentle rhythm.  Now perform a brief ‘body scan’, mindfully examining the body from top to bottom. Note any places where tension is held in the muscles. Pause and focus your attention there. On your next inhalation, breathe into that tension. On the exhalation, breathe out the tension and stiffness. For more contracted areas, two or three breaths might be beneficial.  Move tenderly over the body, relaxing into the embrace of the breath.  

 

 When you are ready to begin cooking, move mindfully into kitchen activities with attention focused on breathing.  Perform each task with mindful awareness.  As you cook, lightly scan your body from time to time—relax the clenched jaw, the tight shoulders, and the anxious solar plexus. The art of cooking is more enjoyable with zen-cuisine’s happy easy-going manner. Relax and be cool in the kitchen.

 

Next post: Part Two:  Relaxing the Mind