At the end of a yoga class, this pose can bring sweet relief, and also for some, a few snores! Have you ever wondered what the benefits may be to this very still pose? And, have you also found yourself feeling impatient after a few minutes to come out of it? Well, here is a bit more information about Savasana (also known as ‘corpse pose’) to ponder while you lay still with eyes closed.
Savasana background:
Very commonly in India, Savasana was practiced as an entry into pranayama, or breathwork exercises. This pose would start out the yoga practice. In the west, we mainly practice this pose at the end of our practice, usually from 5-7 minutes. One lies on the mat, with a bolster under the knees, or lying flat, covered with a blanket or not. Palms are by the sides, facing upward in a receptive gesture, eyes are closed. The teacher guides the students through a brief relaxation visualization, and the student lies still for the duration – with soft music or silence in the background. The body slips into a deep state of constructive rest, while still aware of the surroundings.
Benefits
of Savasana:
– Brings us more into our ‘rest and digest’ or parasympathetic nervous system.
– Allows connective tissues, joints and muscles time to regroup and rejuvenate.
– The mind quiets, eyes soften and rest, and
breathing slows.
– Heart rate balances and calms.
– We have time to connect with ‘being’ rather
than ‘doing’.
Common
responses to being in the pose:
– “How much longer until it’s over?”
– “Ahhhh, this feels so good.”
– Going over the complete ‘to-do’ list.
– “Snore.” ZZzzzz.
– Fidgeting, restless feelings, strong
emotions surfacing.
How to
make the best of the pose:
– Allow the breath to softly breathe itself –
no Ujayi or Ocean Breathing here.
– Just BE. And while you are BE-ing, stay
awake.
– Rest in a sense of your complete wholeness.
– Pay attention to sensations arising in the
body.
– Allow thoughts to be like clouds – let them
pass through without attaching to them.
The next time you are resting in Corpse Pose,
or Savasana, hold some compassion for
yourself. We go, go, GO, do, do, DO in our day to day lives. Sometimes it can
be quite difficult to release and let go. If you find yourself in this frame of
mind as you’re lying in the pose, take a deep breath or two… softly in through
the nose and out through the mouth. Notice a small shift, and allow yourself to
tap into some deeper sensations. You now have 5-7 minutes to become an explorer
of your internal landscape. The world and all your to-do’s will be there
waiting for you once you finish the pose and leave the class. Meet them there.
Wishing you deep tranquility in the stillness
of your Being ~
Namaste.
Leah Marie Serna, RYT 500, is a devoted yoga practitioner, meditator, and co-owner / yoga instructor at Studio Nine. She teaches the Tuesday and Thursday noon Flow classes, Wednesday Awareness as well as the Thursday morning Foundations class. She also serves as the yoga studio manager.