Browse
Top articles
How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
Try free for 7 days.
How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
Benefits of Mindfulness: Mindful Living Can Change Your Life
Mindfulness 101: A Beginner's Guide
00:00
00:00
Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:
Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about the difference between relaxation versus unwinding. Relaxation versus unwinding. So relaxation is a state many of us are somewhat familiar with. At least we have experiences or small doses of it.
And this is where we're not caught in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn reactivity where we're not in a nervous system activation state. Something in us is allowed to be calm. The mind, feels a little bit more calm, the shoulders aren't so tense. And even though this might not be a very familiar experience to us, most of us have a sense of what it's like to be in a more relaxed state. But there's a difference between inhabiting relaxed states versus unwinding deep tension that gets accumulated over the course of a lifetime due to the traumas of life, micro and macro, and all the different experiences that we accumulate as human beings being in the world that don't always get processed in real time.
Although these are different, relaxation supports unwinding deep tension, because the thing that keeps that tension bound in us is being in an activated state. All that stuff that's lingering beneath the surface, the stuff that I like to say is in our backpack of life that's weighing us down. When we continue to just keep pushing, pushing, pushing, and we stay in that nervous system activation, none of that gets addressed. We just keep adding more and more to it. But when we allow ourselves to drop into a state of relaxation, of ease, of internal spaciousness, well now we're no longer adding more tension.
We're no longer adding more things to our backpack of life. And we also give some of that stuff that's been lingering beneath the surface, the space to unwind, to actually be released, to soften and to not be, hmm, how to say, yeah, to not just continue to perpetuate. So this happens in a meditation practice. I mean, think about like five minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes that you might take when you're sitting down, you're dropping into a more relaxed state and you're also giving some of the stuff that's been there beneath the surface, the opportunity to arise. Have you had that experience yourself? If you sit down and just like, oh, I feel pretty calm now.
But then an emotion seems to come out of nowhere. Maybe a sadness that arises spontaneously, or maybe a feeling of agitation. Usually what this is, is something beneath the surface that's been unresolved. But now that you're giving yourself the space of presence, of care, of compassion, it's having the opportunity to be worked through. It's not bad, it's not wrong.
It's a sign that things are starting to move again and getting reintegrated. And so you just meet that with a calm nervous system, with that relaxed state. And eventually it will pass. It will soften. It will release.
And it will integrate with the rest of you allowing us to move back into our life without all of this extra tension and baggage that we've accumulated over the course of a lifetime. So this is the difference between relaxation and unwinding. They're both important, but they are different journeys. They inform one another specifically, relaxation, informing the unwinding. And hopefully this gives you something to think about on this journey of maybe softening some of that deep tension that has been lingering beneath the surface of your awareness.
Thanks for your practice. Let's settle in for today's meditation.
Relaxing vs. Unwinding
Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:
Duration
Your default time is based on your progress and is changed automatically as you practice.
Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about the difference between relaxation versus unwinding. Relaxation versus unwinding. So relaxation is a state many of us are somewhat familiar with. At least we have experiences or small doses of it.
And this is where we're not caught in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn reactivity where we're not in a nervous system activation state. Something in us is allowed to be calm. The mind, feels a little bit more calm, the shoulders aren't so tense. And even though this might not be a very familiar experience to us, most of us have a sense of what it's like to be in a more relaxed state. But there's a difference between inhabiting relaxed states versus unwinding deep tension that gets accumulated over the course of a lifetime due to the traumas of life, micro and macro, and all the different experiences that we accumulate as human beings being in the world that don't always get processed in real time.
Although these are different, relaxation supports unwinding deep tension, because the thing that keeps that tension bound in us is being in an activated state. All that stuff that's lingering beneath the surface, the stuff that I like to say is in our backpack of life that's weighing us down. When we continue to just keep pushing, pushing, pushing, and we stay in that nervous system activation, none of that gets addressed. We just keep adding more and more to it. But when we allow ourselves to drop into a state of relaxation, of ease, of internal spaciousness, well now we're no longer adding more tension.
We're no longer adding more things to our backpack of life. And we also give some of that stuff that's been lingering beneath the surface, the space to unwind, to actually be released, to soften and to not be, hmm, how to say, yeah, to not just continue to perpetuate. So this happens in a meditation practice. I mean, think about like five minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes that you might take when you're sitting down, you're dropping into a more relaxed state and you're also giving some of the stuff that's been there beneath the surface, the opportunity to arise. Have you had that experience yourself? If you sit down and just like, oh, I feel pretty calm now.
But then an emotion seems to come out of nowhere. Maybe a sadness that arises spontaneously, or maybe a feeling of agitation. Usually what this is, is something beneath the surface that's been unresolved. But now that you're giving yourself the space of presence, of care, of compassion, it's having the opportunity to be worked through. It's not bad, it's not wrong.
It's a sign that things are starting to move again and getting reintegrated. And so you just meet that with a calm nervous system, with that relaxed state. And eventually it will pass. It will soften. It will release.
And it will integrate with the rest of you allowing us to move back into our life without all of this extra tension and baggage that we've accumulated over the course of a lifetime. So this is the difference between relaxation and unwinding. They're both important, but they are different journeys. They inform one another specifically, relaxation, informing the unwinding. And hopefully this gives you something to think about on this journey of maybe softening some of that deep tension that has been lingering beneath the surface of your awareness.
Thanks for your practice. Let's settle in for today's meditation.
Duration
Play in-app
Scan the following QR code with your camera app to open it on our mobile app
Get Unlimited Access
A Mindfulness Plus+ subscription gives you unlimited access to a world of premium mindfulness content.
Email Missing
We couldn’t detect your email with the SSO provider you have selected.We are here to make a positive impact on the world. We never want to sell you something that hasn’t helped you live a better life. That’s why if you’re unhappy with any purchase from us, you have 30 days to get a full refund and your money back.
If you subscribed to Mindfulness Plus+ and are unhappy with your purchase, please get in contact with us within the 30-day period and we’ll refund your purchase.
Learn more about our Mindfulness Guarantee.
Mindfulness
We believe in a world where everybody has access to the life-changing skills of mindfulness.
Private Browsing
We believe in a world where everybody has access to the life-changing skills of mindfulness.
Annual membership
$0
This is the app I turn to when I want to feel calm and loved.
- Abby
Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
This is the app I turn to when I want to feel calm and loved.
- Abby
Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
This is the app I turn to when I want to feel calm and loved.
- Abby
Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
Thank you for joining us
Dive into the full library and enjoy all it has to offer!
Claim your free access
Create a mindfulness account and we’ll unlock this premium session in your account forever.
7-Days free trial, cancel anytime.
Complete a few quick questions to make your own personalized mindfulness plan.
Sign up or login to your mindfulness account to proceed.
Sign up or login to your mindfulness account to proceed.
Mindfulness
One membership to gain access to a world of premium mindfulness content created to help you live happier and stress less.