Corpse Pose - Savasana

The Corpse Pose gives you a deep experience of peace. It brings the body, mind, and spirit into complete balance. It gives you time to absorb and integrate the benefits of other yoga postures and gets your body back to its normal state. It's name stems from the position of lying on the back like a corpse and is the most basic posture of yoga.

Benefits of Corpse Pose

One of the best ways to learn to meditate is the Corpse Pose. It's a resting pose that trains your body, mind and heart to be relaxed and tension free, while keeping you wide awake at the same time. It improves circulation, indigestion, regulates blood pressure, insomnia, eliminates fatigue and induces calmness of the mind. It helps you feel the energy inside and improves self awareness.

There has been research done by yoga schools that lying in Shavasana (Corpse Pose) for twenty minutes is like getting four hours of normal sleep. While sleeping, your mind and heart are still working hard. In Corpse Pose you focus on your breathing and relax every part of your body, including the skin, muscles and blood vessels. This allows you to reach a state of conscious relaxation.

There are healing benefits to Corpse Pose if practiced regularly. The act of commanding using gentle auto suggestions to every body part, limb and organ to relax fully can alleviate psychosomatic diseases. These are disorders that the symptoms are mainly caused by mental processes or are stress related. This can be people that experience pain, nausea or other symptoms felt physically, but without any physical cause that can be diagnosed by a doctor. It is known to completely heal these ailments over time and also help the body and mind to heal after any long and serious illnesses. It can give prompt relief for those suffering heart diseases and is great for anger management.

Every yoga class should practice the Corpse Pose, in order to absorb all the positive effects of other yoga postures. This can be during and especially at the end of every class. It stimulates blood circulation equally throughout the whole body and keeps you refreshed as it rejuvenates every part of the body. It can be practiced if you feel stressed, tired or at the end of the day before bed.

While lying in Corpse Pose, it's important to remove all distractions surrounding your body. The room should be partially dark and quiet and there should be no movement at all, just breathing. You can stay in Corpse pose from 5-20 minutes.

Steps for Corpse Pose

1. Lie flat on your back with your legs straight out. Have your feet shoulder width apart.
2. Extend your arms with palms facing upwards.
3. Keep your head straight resting on the centre/back of the skull.
4. Close your eyes, and concentrate on breathing slowly.
5. Relax every part of your body, physically and mentally.
6. Begin to scan every part of your body, starting with your hands.
7. Go into detail as you relax every part of your hand. Your nails, fingers, palms, feel the energy in your hands.
8. Then move to your arms, up to the shoulders.
9. You should feel a tingly sensation through each part of the body, as you release all the tension.
10. Then direct your attention to your feet, relax each toe, nail, arches and space between each toe, the ankles and heels.
11. Move along the calves, knees, thighs and hips. Experience your whole legs becoming light, transparent and clear.
12. Relax your abdomen and belly and breath deeply.
13. Move to your chest area, expanding your chest and opening your heart as you breath. Inhale positive energy and exhale negative tension.
14. Then relax your neck, throat, face and head. Every part of your face, eyes, eye brows, forehead, hose, mouth, cheeks and ears. let go of any tension and feel your face glow.
15. Your whole body should be relaxed and you should enjoy the way your feel
16. Slowly open your eyes gently.
17. Roll slowly to one side, getting up to a seated position.

See more Yoga Poses