Most of us associate relaxation with collapse. People say, "I'm going home to relax." But what they really mean is that they're going to turn on the TV, collapse on the couch, and fall asleep. That's not what we're looking for in yoga. In yoga we learn to consciously let go of tension. You can easily do this at home. Start by lying on the floor, arms out to your sides, palms up, legs straight and dropped open. Begin to scan your body. Notice the physical sensations in your body. Find the tension and watch it. You'll see that observation itself is the very act of letting go. As you watch, the tension changes. You'll feel it pulsing, moving, and draining away. The more you observe, the more you can let go. This is relaxing, the yoga way.

Rodney Yee, Everyday Yoga