Good evening, Lovelies~
I’ve been thinking about Savasana for the past couple days (who am I kidding, I’ve been thinking about Savasana for ages!) so thought I would write a little something about it….from my point of view as a student of yoga, as well as a teacher.
Savasana, simply translated as “corpse pose” or “dead body pose”, is primarily a relaxation posture. Savasana is beneficial for allowing the body to absorb benefits from an asana (posture) practice, such as Hatha Yoga (Bikram Yoga is a Hatha yoga practice). This from Wikipedia, “Following an asana practice ending in savasana, the body may be in the anabolic state of metabolism during which organ and muscle repair and development is occurring”. In a Bikram yoga class we practice Savasana several times per class (23 including FINAL Savasana), and each one is important. We practice the first Savasana for about 2 minutes. This is the change from the standing series (which Bikram refers to as the warming up exercises) to the floor series (the “real yoga”). It allows the body to slow the heart rate, assimilate the benefits of the elevated heart rate, the faster breathing pattern, the flushing of the circulatory system…just to name a few things. Throughout the rest of the class we practice the Savasana in between each set of each posture, for a shorter time-20 or so seconds. This 20 seconds allows the body to get one full circle of the circulatory system (ever notice how the word “circle” is similar to the word “circulatory”?), thereby aiding in the natural irrigation of the circulatory system with the help of the respiratory system (in other words, flushing your system!)
The final Savasana is the same as the first Savasana is the same as the Savasanas in between. It’s included in the series to give you the optimal benefits from the postures and the class. You just worked so hard in the class for 90 minutes, you deserve the rest and rejuvenation that the final Savasana can provide you with. This also from Wikipedia, “(Savasana is practiced) typically 20-30 minutes although often less in Western yoga classes.” So…this gets me to my point…what’s up, Yogis, what’s the hurry??! I’ve been noticing lately in class that students are racing out at the end of class without taking Savasana. Some take maybe a few seconds, just enough time for the teacher to exit the room, but some are up and out like a shot before the teacher even turns off the light or finishes speaking. SLOW DOWN, YOGIS!! You need your Savasana!
I’ve seen it in many studios, not just one or two…I travel to many studios all over the place and the epidemic is rampant. I know for me that in my journey of my practice, I have noticed that the better my final Savasana, the better I feel after class and for the rest of the day. I totally understand that this class (Bikram yoga) is a big committment for people…physically, mentally, spiritually and TIME committment. I get it…however, in the grand scheme of your life, where are 1-2 minutes going to benefit you more…racing out the door, or being still and breathing at the end of a class…?
Just think about it. I’m not preaching to you or telling you what to do or not do, I’m simply telling you my observation. My job here is not to teach behaviour, it is to teach you the postures. I lend you by observation because I have learned through my own experience a thing or two about this practice. Savasana is your friend, believe me. See if you can find an extra minute or two to give to yourself…and then just see if you feel the difference.
Namaste, puppies. See you in the hot room
From www.bikramwyoga.com
Bikram in Savasana
“Dead Body Pose facilitates powerful blood flow, then lets circulation return to normal, creating internal cleansing and greatly magnifying the benefits of the postures that precede it.”
Ida Ripley 