Pose of the Month: Savasana

Hello friends!

We've decided that each month we're going to take a few moments and discuss a yoga asana (pose). 

We thought it might be wise to start where our practice starts - in Savasana. 

Many, many students have asked over the years, "Why are we just lying here?" "What's the point?".

Savasana translates to "corpse pose."

In Savasana, we bring our body to stillness. Perhaps not quite the stillness of a true corpse - but as still as we can; both body and mind. 

Traditionally, in Savasana, we lie down on our backs and let the feet roll open, arms down long by our sides. 

In Savasana, we make the transition from our normal day and into the mindset of our yoga practice. We begin to focus on our breath. We let go of our thoughts, our plans, our expectations. 

Some teachers say we symbolically "die" in corpse pose - dying to our old ways of thinking and being. In this way, we can open ourselves to our practice without dragging all our baggage with us. 

Options in Savasana can really set the tone for our practice. If we are feeling depleted, we might rest our hands palms up and ask that our practice fill us with what we need. 

If we are feeling overburdened or full of negativity, we may rest our hands palms down and ask that our practice help us release our burdens to the earth. 

If we need to receive or send love, we might rest a hand on our heart. 

Savasana may be a time to set an intention for our practice, consciously drawing to mind our reasons for practicing that day. Intentions should always be stated positively and in the present tense, "My practice relaxes me today" "My practice makes brings me peace today" "My practice makes me stronger today."

What do we do if lying flat on our back is uncomfortable? Fear not! Props can be used to make us more comfortable. Place a blanket behind the head or a bolster behind the knees.

We may also choose to settle into stillness in many other postures. We might lie on our side or on our stomach. We might start in child's pose or any comfortable seated posture.

As always in yoga, it is about the mind and the breath, more than it is about the pose.

Depending on the day, Savasana can be as challenging as any plank or lunge. When our thoughts, worries and to-dos are rattling around inside our heads, it can be hard to find that stillness. And yet, find it we must. Even for just a moment. Perhaps for just one breath.

And what a difference that one moment or breath can make.

Ah Savasana. Settle in, let go. Breathe and be.