Search Results for: Savasana

Corpse Pose There are few instructions for this sublime pose (that we long for in the middle of a difficult class, or at the end of a long, hard day.)  The only important thing is to be in a comfortable position, eyes closed,  lying restfully on your back, so that you do not fuss with the body.  Let back, neck, legs, arms, shoulders lie open, long and heavy with gravity.  Palms are open, feet and legs roll outward.  If you are there for a long enough period, and you know your back will ache, place a block or pillow under the knees. Support whatever needs supporting so that you can turn inward to your breath, to this moment of ending and surrender. Physical places that often need conscious attention are the eyes, tongue, and jaw.  Take a few breaths at the beginning to mindfully breathe through head channels, including ears, nose, back of neck, and around  forehead furrows, or third eye.  If class has been stressful for your ego, pay attention to an anxious stomach, and any feelings of  being less than.  In time, your Practice will not allow that, but often in the beginning, we all suffer from some form of not being as fabulous as we wish.  Let it all flow into the river, washing through the body, belly breathing that balm in Gilead. Ideally, you spend 5 minutes for each 30 minutes of class.  That is becoming rare, but when you do come out and up, roll to the side and slowly sit.  Let the head be last, keeping your eyes closed if possible.  Be aware of how different you feel now -than before. Health Notes:  This is a master pose, good for whatever ails us.  I have used it for depression and anxiety, insomnia, and nervous… Read more »

This is a wonderfully restorative pose, perfect to close down a day, or offer a moment of renewal at a stressful time.  It can be done either with or without support.  To enter the pose, without support, sit facing wall with buttocks against, and sideways to the wall, then extend torso back onto forearms as you lift legs up against the wall.  Back of hips and legs should lie agains wall.  If your legs tend to fall open, strap them so you can completely rest.  This pose can be in place of Savasana; close eyes, open arms out, palms up, enter a conscious breath, with longer exhales. With support: Add either a rolled blanket, or bolster, or blankets added to a bolster, and place against the wall, running length of wall.  Repeat the same entry as above.  It will be a bit more difficult to get sacrum and legs against wall, but do your best.  Spend 5-10 minutes here. When coming out of the pose, do it slowly by bending knees, rolling to one side, and coming off the bolster.  Lie completely flat to bring spine into its alignment before getting up. Happy dreams!