
Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed without any clue of what to do to regain your sense of peace? Undisturbed Relaxation, by Haley Grogan, shows how viewers are able to find peace by taking the time to step away from the overwhelming world of technology and refresh their body and mind. The images in this photo essay bring serenity to the readers, while causing them to think about how they should try to refresh themselves as well. Relaxation is an important thing needed in today’s society. Most people, today, are always running in fifty different directions, constantly busy, and never truly living in the moment. People need to start slowing down and be where they are at that point in their day. Everyone needs to learn to be where they are in that moment because if your mind is constantly being split in different directions it is going to cause stress in your life and disturb your inner peace. The essay will show through the people’s demeanors, body language, and the setting the state of relaxation the individuals are currently experiencing in the images. 

People of all ages are having the same problem of not living in the moment, which is why this photo essay uses a variety of ages. The images within this photo essay show the different ways individuals may prefer to relax, and that all generations, not just millennials, need to learn to take a step back from all of our technological advances. What the people are doing in each image was put in that specific order to switch back and forth from different types of renewing mental and physical tactics. For example, the essay shows a teenage girl doing a headstand on the beach, and then immediately shows an older woman drinking coffee while staring out a window. Both are different approaches to calming yourself, yet for that person it may be what works best, regardless of their age. The pictures show the reader it does not matter what way you choose to find relaxation, just find it. Each individual needs to be responsible for their own mental and physical health, which starts with finding tranquility. This essay puts an emphasis on the importance of giving yourself a break from all the stressors in the everyday world and making time for yourself. 

 One way a person may give themselves a break is shown in the picture of the girl reading a book. It shows how one can still be entertained and relaxed without the use of technology. We don’t need a television to show us a story; we are capable of imagining one from words on a page. You can see on the expression of her face that she is enjoying the story she is reading and is in a peaceful state. The corners of the girl’s mouth are turned up in a relaxed, easy smile to show how pleasurable she is in that moment. She looks incredibly at ease and stress free because she is able to solely focus on only the story she is currently engaged in, not worrying about anything else going on around her. You can see her obvious relaxation by the way she is allowing her hair to freely blow in the light breeze, laying leisurely, her forearms resting on the fresh cut grass. Reading alone on a beautiful, sunny day in nature gives her the simple luxury of uninterrupted solitude. 

You are also able to clearly see a content peaceful expression on the older woman holding her coffee. This shows the readers the peace you gain from simply setting everything aside and enjoying the luxury of doing nothing other than appreciating blissful silence. The photographer decided to use a long shot for this picture, in order for the viewer to see how her whole body is in a state of relaxation. The way the woman is leisurely laid back in her chair with her feet up shows that she is completely comfortable, and enjoying every moment away from the hectic world. However, you are also still close enough to see, even from the side, the look of content and rest in her facial expression. Her eyes are gazing out towards the green, thriving plants, as her lips are pulled together in a straight, content expression. The abundance of white throughout the picture found on the window, curtains, her clothes, her mug, her hair, and where her feet are resting is calming. The audience can also tell from the long shot that there is not a piece of technology in sight, she is in complete solitude simply enjoying her own company. 

The woman meditating is also finding her own way to leave the problems of her world behind. You can visibly see the peaceful tranquility on her face. The way her eyebrows are pinched together shows her concentrating, while the relaxed, straight shape of her mouth depicts peace. Her white clothes and neutral background is relaxing and serene. There is nothing distracting in the image either, just the woman sitting cross-legged on a tan mat with an unmarked cream-colored wall behind her. This shows that the woman’s focus is supposed to be solely on her own meditating. The readers are seeing what it looks like to completely put your concentration on one thing, and now are hopefully wanting to be able to experience that for themselves, as well. 

The picture of the girl fishing also clearly shows the serenity you are able to feel when you put technology and the world aside. The audience is able to tell by the way her feet are dangling just above the water just how carefree she is able to be in that moment. She has no technological device in sight, yet she seems to be enjoying life more than ever. It shows just how idyllic it can be for a person to disconnect for a while. Also, you can tell by her slightly sunburned skin that she was most likely outside for a while enjoying the sunshine. Humans need to take a break and reset every once in a while, so they can stay sane and at peace with themselves, and what better place to accomplish that than on the water? 

The audience is also able to see the completely at peace expression on the girl’s face who is listening to her music. Her eyes are closed enabling her to focus purely on the music being played. It is as if she is trying to soak in every lyric, unlike many people who would be scrolling through twitter simultaneously. Her arms are also raised in a way that shows she is in a complete, vulnerable state of rest, as she lays on a couch with a pillow beneath her head. The edges of her mouth are turned down in the ultimate state of relaxation, while her hair is resting on her forehead carelessly. She is not letting anything distract her from what she is currently doing.

This essay encourages its readers to find relaxation wherever they are without the dependency of technology. The pictures displayed show the audience various ways one would be able to achieve complete peace and tranquility. The people in the pictures show just how freeing it can be to escape their tiresome mundane lives, and let themselves unwind. It is important in our hurried society to take time to simply renew one’s body and mind. This essay is showing through pictures the numerous benefits of letting yourself disconnect from the world to find your ultimate state of relaxation.
