Savasana - The Corpse Pose
sha-VAH-suh-nuh
Savasana is the posture for ultimate relaxation.
In this posture the body and mind are encouraged to deeply relax and release all physical and emotional tension. Although this posture looks relatively easy, it is still a posture that requires awareness.
Savasana is much more challenging than it appears.
It is during Savasana when the yoga practice is able to integrate deeply into our core as the body and mind relaxes and lets go.
For some the name corpse might bring a level of discomfort, traditionally this yoga posture was regarded as preparation for death, which ancient yogis would not have feared but seen as a period of transition.
Today we view Savasana as a time to deeply relax, it allows the body to recover and process any new knowledge or physical practices.
How to Perform Savasana
Lie on your back with your legs extended. Position the arms are alongside your body with a 45 degree angle between your arms and your torso and the palms are facing up.
Relax the space between your eyebrows, release your shoulders equally to the floor, both sides of torso should be equal in length from under your arms to your hips, feel your pelvis balanced and your lower back heavy, notice that both legs are equal in length and that the ankles are relaxed.
Breathe slowly in and out through your nose and begin to carefully and thoughtfully scan through your body. Start slowly at the crown of your head and work methodically down your body looking for tension, imbalances, areas that feel pain or are over or under energised. When you discover an imbalance send your exhalation to that area and in your mind ask the area to relax.
Once you have scanned your body breathe slowly enjoying a state of deep relaxation.
In Savasana long straight lines are created with your body, allowing energy, oxygen and nutrients to travel freely without restriction; refreshing and recharging your entire being.
Breathing slowly activates the rest and digest response, during this time of deep relaxation the body can process waste and absorb nutrients, helping to recharge the body and mind.
This blog article was written by Sue Fuller creator of the Yoga 2 Hear range of audio yoga classes and yoga teacher training courses.
