Savasana: Die to Live

Letting go isn’t the end of what I know….it is the beginning of what I am about to learn.

I sometimes reflect upon those days when I used to lie on the floor for hours plugged into earphones listening to my favourite music.  Living in a world of ecstasy and delight and away from the burdens of teenage-hood, I would ‘float’ into a state of serenity.

The same calm would overtake me when I ventured down to the beach to watch the clouds manifest their art in the sky and be enraptured by the melody of the waves and the birds.

This is what Savasana means to me now.  I just lie there….just being….not doing.  Tapping into the sounds around me.  Sensing not thinking…..

The yoga posture ‘Savasana’ is translated as the ‘corpse’ pose.  It simply means ‘letting go’ of behaviours, habits, thoughts and beliefs that no longer serve me.

How to:

Lie in a comfortable position on the floor, preferably somewhere warm.  Spread your feet about hip-width distance apart with the little toes falling out to the side.  Your arms are long and loose beside you and the palms are turned up in an attitude of acceptance, surrender, offering and compassion.

If you have difficulty lying on your back, place a rolled-up towel or a bolster beneath the knees. An eye-pad could be good….a soft cozy blanket draped across the body is perfect.

Slide the shoulders down and away from the ears.  Shoulders spreading….lower back releasing.  Drop the jaw and relax the cheeks.  Eyes are softly closed. Feel as though they are falling backwards from the eyelids.  Perhaps you could imagine that you are breathing in and out through the eyes.  Notice what happens to the face when you do this.

Roll your head gently from side to side to release any tension in the neck and shoulders.

Breathe…..breathe…..breathe.  Observe the waves of breath….a gentle rhythmic flow.

As you breathe in, draw in energy, and as you exhale release all fatigue, concerns, strain and pain. Feel as though they are releasing out through the fingertips and toes.

Let go of the ‘thinking mind’.  If the mind jumps from thought to thought just bring your attention back to the breath, or the sensations in the body.  Sink deeper and deeper in to the earth.

Absorb the peace of Savasana.

Release into that sanctuary within, where all knowledge resides and serenity reigns.  Awaken the teacher within.  Retreat into your essence.  Just be.

What Savasana will do for you:

• Improve concentration
• Enhance creativity and clarity
• Release stresses and strain
• Initiate better quality of breathing
• Reduce inner conflict
• Relax the body
• Calm the mind
• Restore energy
• Expand awareness and composure

Enjoy!

Postscript: You may be carrying an injury. Therefore if you would like more in-depth knowledge of what props you can use to lie in Savasana to be a little more comfortable, then perhaps you would be interested in: http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/restpos/shavas/shavas.html