Savasana, The Final Resting Pose

After an hour and half of balancing, breathing and challenging postures and poses, Savasana is a much deserved reward to the end of yoga class.

As a child, I recall laying on the hill in my parents backyard and watching the clouds shift and shape, taking on life-like forms. It provided me time to be still, present in my mind, body, and breath. Today I receive that same feeling every time I’m in Savasana.

Savasana is also known as the resting pose, but don’t mistake it for a sleeping pose! This final pose is perhaps the most important 5-10 minutes of the entire practice. Savasana allows your body time to absorb the information it has been given during class. With our busy lifestyles, we can easily forget what matters most, putting ourselves and our well-being on the backburner. It’s no wonder we feel a sense of irritable discontent when we don’t allow ourselves a “time out”. What you should feel during Savasana is present, aware, and relaxed. Your mind is still, accepting and letting go of any thoughts that come during your quiet time. Svasana also aids in practicing mindfulness, and helps us to accept whatever is happening without judgment. This leads us to make better decisions throughout our day. Emily Bennington, presented a free teleclass on mindfulness as a career strategy. Said Bennington, “Adult brains are malleable. With practice, you can rewire your brain to be calmer, and when calmer, you make better decisions.”

How To:

• Lie down on your back, allowing your feet to flop out to the
  sides.*
• Bring your arms alongside your body, palms to facing
  upwards.
• Take a breath and on the exhale, relax your body, including your face (be mindful that your jaw muscles are relaxed).
• During Savasana, your breath should come naturally; there is no need to take deep inhales or exhales.
  When you are ready, begin to awaken your body by wiggling your fingers and toes, and gently moving your head from side to side.
• Let your eyes flutter open and bring the knees into your chest, cradling your knees. Drop your feet to the floor and roll over to one side.
• Remain in this folded position for one minute before slowly bringing yourself into a sitting position.

Benefits:

• A sense of inner peace and calm before the start or the end of a
  day.
• Clarity.
• Helps relieve stress and boost your mood.
• Can reduce headaches
• A little goes a long way – you may only be in this pose for a few
  minutes, but Savasana often leaves you feeling refreshed and energetic.

Don’t skip Savasana; the final resting pose of the class is a time to reflect and honor your body, mind and spirit. Allowing yourself time to slow down and simply
breathe can cause shifts and awakenings. Guiding students through Savasana, I’ve witnessed how just a few minutes can make a difference in someone’s mood, and remember, our mood is connected to our perception. Positive perceptions create right intents and constructive days, so get your Savasana on and experience well-being!

*Alternative positions are one hand on your heart and one on your stomach, your legs up against a wall, or on your back with your feet folded up and knees flopping outward.

Next up at Roots: Intro-to-Yoga Series in June w/ Maryalice, Thursday
Nights 5:45-7PM: In this four-week yoga session taught by Maryalice, our Wednesday morning instructor, you will become familiar with basic yoga postures, breathing techniques, proper alignment and modifications. Be prepared to increase your flexibility and balance as you strengthen and tone your body. By the end of the series you will have the knowledge to attend any of the Roots’ class offerings.

Until next week, Namaste.

~ Ginger

Roots Yoga Studio is located at: 220 Cambridge St. Burlington MA 01803 (same plaza as True North Coffee) 781-272-YOGA rootsyogaburlington@gmail.com