Savasana, easy or not?
Savasana (Corpse pose) is the last pose of every yoga class. It looks so easy to lie down on your back and do nothing, but is it easy for everyone?
Many people had told me that it is impossible to relax their minds. It drives them crazy when the teacher says ‘‘Relax your body and mind’’ and some common thoughts are:
For how long should I stay here?
What was that noise?
I need to take a shower.
What do I have to do after this class?
The art of relaxation is harder than it looks. You can’t just say
‘‘OK, I’m going to relax now!’’ Ask all these people who suffer from insomnia. In the beginning, it’s normal to feel some tension or maybe that you want to keep your eyes open during Savasana. But, since you’re in the class anyway, just give it a shot and who knows…maybe you ‘ll like it!
Steps to Savasana:
Start lying down on your back and try to be comfortable. Use a pillow under the knees, blanket to cover your body and something to cover your eyes. Turn the palms facing up and let the feet open naturally to the side.
Take a deep breath through the nose, fill your belly with air and exhale through the mouth and release all the tension.
Mentally run through all the parts of your body, from toes to head, to relax every single muscle. Feel your body heavy, like it’s sinking down into the floor.
Try not to get involved in every thought. Imagine a book in front of you, and that every page is a thought. Just turn the page and go to the next one.
Before you come out of Savasana, take a deep breath and observe how your energy level feels. You should feel more relaxed, awake and alive than before. Slowly move your fingers and toes, slowly turn your head right and left. Bring the hands over the head and have a full stretching from toes to head. Bring the feet on the floor and roll to your right side, like a sleeping baby. Keep your eyes closed and slowly find your way to a seated position. Take a deep breath and slowly open your eyes.
Namaste!