You don’t snooze, you lose.
When I see someone walk out of a yoga class right before Savasana, I am flabbergasted. The Corpse Pose that comes at the very end of every yoga practice is my favorite part and I savor every second of the few minutes of eyes closed, body still. If you’re one of these strange humans who exits early AND CAN’T STAND STAYING STILL, hear this: you’re missing out. And here’s why you should reconsider.
Savasana Is the Ultimate Workout Recovery.
Exercise puts your body in a stressed state. It’s often uncomfortable—your heart is beating faster, your pores are pouring sweat and you’re breathing heavier. So savasana at the end of the practice is a way to bring the body back to normal and counteracts its stress responses. It aids in recovery, which is an essential aspect to any workout, yoga or other.
Don’t like lying down on your back? Then don’t. While traditional savasana may look like that, you can lie on your stomach, on your side, add a bolster or blanket under your head or knees, whatever feels most comfortable that will get you in a restful state.
Corpse Pose Offers a Mental Break, Too.
While some say they don’t like savasana because it’s hard to relax, try it anyway and don’t worry about where your mind goes. “In today's world, it's rare to have even just a few minutes to yourself, but that's what savasana gives us: the time and space to just be. Maybe it's a few moments for meditation, maybe it's processing something you're going through or maybe it's your chance to fully tune out what's happening in life in order to better tune into yourself. Give yourself those five minutes and stay for savasana,” says Selby Hill, co-founder and teacher at Yonder Yoga.
It Helps with Daily Stress.
Studies have shown that the regular practice of savasana decreases the resting heart rate and engages the parasympathetic nervous system. Meaning: you will be less likely to reach peak stress even outside of a yoga class. We all need that knee up, no?
Speaking of stress, have you tried these 5 Stress-Relieving At-Home Yoga Poses yet? Enjoy!
