The relaxation at the end of a yoga session

Conscious TV

June 21, 2021

No matter what style you practice, Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, Ashtanga or any other, Hatha Yoga practices always close with a rest called Savasana in which students lie on their back.

Before talking about the importance and necessity of Savasana or corpse pose, it is important to explain how it is performed: lying on the back, legs and arms slightly open; the feet are dropped to the sides; the palms of the hands face upwards to absorb energy and finally the face is relaxed: the forehead is smooth, the eyes and lips are closed, but the teeth do not clash: the jaw is slack. The breathing, which is so important in the classes and which in many styles is controlled, is released and allowed to flow naturally.

What happens during Savasana?

Normally Savasana is a bit hectic, after all, it is the culmination of a more or less demanding physical practice and it is difficult to relax the mind and body, but this is precisely what is sought. The purpose of Savasana is to return to reality in a calm manner, to go out into the rest of the day prepared for what is to come.

Not doing Savasana or doing one too short leaves you with an agitated body and thinking. Like a child who has consumed too much sugar, too fast. And as with children, after the state of euphoria, comes one of exacerbated tiredness. On the contrary, a good Savasana leaves the student balanced, with controlled energy and not overflowing.

Why savasana is the hardest pose?

Contrary to what many people believe: Savasana is not napping. There is a reason why it is called the corpse posture and not the sleeping posture. In Savasana, besides relaxing the body and releasing the tensions accumulated in the practice, it is important to relax the mind: it is not about "going blank" as many people think. It is about not focusing on any thoughts, letting them come and go, like when we change channels on TV looking for something to watch, only in this case, the goal is not to find anything.

How long should you stay in Savasana?

Finally: remember that it is good to experience first-hand. Everything that is experienced is best learned. Try for yourself how you feel if you don't do Savasana or if you do a short or a long one. Although the recommended time is 5 minutes for a 1 hour practice and 10 minutes for an hour and a half, it is best to find out for yourself what works best for you.

If you want to learn mor about this a other asanas,  see our Yoga Poses Course in TV Concious.