thursday

Did you know that Yoga Journal recommends that you spend 5 minutes in savasana for every 30 minutes of practice? In my 60 minute classes, 6 of those minutes are spent in savasana. Seem a little long to you? Do you get bored? Fidgety? Does your mind wander? Let me break this pose down for you.

First of all, what is savasana? Savasana, also known as corpse pose, is the final resting pose in your practice. Some yogis struggle to quiet their minds in this pose and completely let go, allowing both the body and the mind total relaxation. Some yogis skip savasana all together, leaving class when it starts. Bad idea! Savasana is arguably the most important asana in your practice. It calms the brain, rejuvenates the body, and gives you a chance to reflect on your practice. Even though 6 minutes may seem like a long time to "just lay there", it can actually take 2-3 minutes just to get both the mind and body to reach stillness, so why get up just when it's starting to get good?!

While some students dislike savasana because they can't seem to find the off-switch for their minds,  others may dislike it because they physically can't get comfortable. Having something to place over the eyes (an eye mask or pillow, extra points if it's scented with something calming such as lavender or chamomile), may help you find relaxation. Also consider bringing a sweater with you to class, so you can cover up and avoid getting cold! It can also be helpful to roll a blanket up and place it under the knees, as well as placing 10 lb sand bags on the hips (which isn't always an accessible option).

Happy resting!

Thought for the day:
Death is unimportant to a yogi; he does not mind when he is going to die. What happens after death is immaterial to him. He is only concerned with life- with how he can use his life for the betterment of humanity. -BKS Iyengar