Savasana (Corpse Pose)

When I first started yoga, I remember feeling like this pose was such a waste of time. I wanted to move, try new poses, do new things, GO GO GO! But as time passed, I started appreciating the effects that Savasana (shah-vah-sana) had on me after my practice. It was a wonderful experience of tuning in, and chilling out, which never failed to give my body what my mind could not/would not express. REST!

Sava stands for ‘corpse’, and anna stands for ‘pose’.  This pose is also called Mrtasana (mrit-TAHS-anna, with mrta meaning ‘death’).

A teacher once said to me, “I believe that if everyone did 5 mins of Savasana a day, the world would be a much better place.” I laughed when I heard it, and dismissed it as airy-fairy-yogic-jargon, but of late, I’m starting to feel the weight of that statement. These days, whenever I am aching in my body, have a headache, am feeling particularly stressed, anxious, worried, or can’t get myself to fall asleep, I’d pull out my blanket and fold it into an upside down ‘W’ so as to support my head and neck, and happily splay out into Savasana. Bliss arrives in a matter of minutes

For those who have a bad back, and cannot lie down with your legs flat out, I suggest either bending your knees so you can have a flat back, or propping your legs up with a bolster beneath your knees.

Getting into the pose…

1) Sitting with your feet firmly on the ground, and knees close to your chest, slowly lower yourself down onto the mat, until you are lying down.

2) Straighten your knees and stretch your legs out. Let your legs fall to the sides naturally.

*FOR THOSE WITH BACK PAIN, KEEP KNEES BENT, OR PROP UP LEGS WITH A BOLSTER BENEATH THE KNEES!

3) Roll your shoulders back, and have your hands roll out. Let your palms face upwards.

*Optional: Fold a blanket into an upside down ‘W’ by crumbling the sides of the blanket inwards. Place blanket under head and neck for added support.

4) Stay in this position for at least 5 minutes after each practice. Do 10 mins if you can, or 15 mins if you have the time to spare.

There is no such thing as too much of a Savasana!