HOW DO YOU DO IT?
Many of us use a standard technique, and there are lots of popular terms to describe how one relaxes with that method-use them. Sure, you can use more explanatory language, and that will help so you not only help others understand what you are talking about, it will keep you from overusing any terms, which is just good writing form. If you don't know the proper terminology, get friends who might know, use the Internet, or check out books from the library and do a little research so you at least sound like you know what you are talking about. If you would rather not, even explaining lyrically how confused it all makes you but you love the results is a valid way to get the ideas across, too, so don't be afraid to admit you don't know all the facts, are trying to learn, or you are intrigued at the way your friends get so much out of it and want to try it yourself. Describe the environment you are in, using all your senses-a soft pillow, how you sit on it, the lighting, incense or book smells, flowers, baking smells, wooden or stone floors, cool or warm room, lit by candles or bright sunbeams, or whatever comes to you. Do you hear music, bird songs, chanting, horses nickering to each other, children playing, a dryer rotating and fluffing a load of clothes, the scrape of a hoe on dirt as it sinks next to a group of weeds? Everyone has a special activity. If you don't have one, have fun describing someone else's. You could do an entire series of works on each one.
HOW DOES IT FEEL?
You can really devote several verses, a bridge and even a repeated chorus to each part of the process you go through to relax. Think of how uptight you might feel as you start, or how tired. Write down what you do to start your ritual, and how it feels once you get into the rhythm of the process-there will be one, and it can even be the basis of your meter or drum or bassline that keeps the piece moving. There will be points where you naturally will pause or even rest-those can be easy to feel places to put ends of musical sections, too. How do you feel as you pause? Are you ready for more, or will it still be a struggle to go on? You can have a great time coming up with chord progressions and musical instrument choices that just seem to 'fit' what is going on here. If it is tough going, you might try something like Major Seventh chords or even just plain minor ones that resolve into Major ones once things go more smoothly, for example. As you feel more uplifted, maybe even a key change up to a higher but still comfortable scale can help you show how much better you feel-if anything, start in an uncomfortable low place and move up to a more powerful key for you, so you can show how you are improved, not straining for the new notes. You might even try using more negative terminology for how you feel before you start, say in the first verse or intro, then use more and more positive wording as the music goes on to show your new point of view. Even putting more light into your words or speed into the music can help show this brighter outlook-do what seems natural for you, and you may surprise yourself with how much you have felt about the entire process.
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