Benefits of Yoga Postures : The Corpse Pose (Savasana)

Yoga asanas are known as yoga postures where lot of people are practising now.  It is part of the Yoga.  Yoga asanas benefits lot of people in term of physically and mentally as we have understand that mind and body connected.  Therefore, by working on the body will help with the mind too.

There are many yoga poses but there are some classic yoga poses which you will come across very often in the class.  The benefit of yoga poses will have a different various of benefits on individual poses.  Even simple yoga poses also have its benefit to the body and mind.

Today I’m going to talk about the most simple yoga pose benefits, The Corpse Pose (Savasana).  Although it is the most simple yoga pose but there are people can still do wrong.  It is more than just simply lying down.

Benefits Of Corpse Pose Yoga

Sava means a corpse. In this asana the object is to imitate a corpse.  Once life has departed, the body remains still and no movements are possible. By remaining motionless for some time and keeping the mind still while you are fully conscious, you learn to relax.

This conscious relaxation invigorates and refreshes both body and mind. But it is much harder to keep the mind than the body still. Therefore, this apparently easy posture is one of the most difficult to master.

Lying upon one’s back on the ground at full length like a corpse is called Savasana. This posture removes and destroys the fatigue, and induces calmness of mind and quiets the agitation of the mind.

Steady, smooth, fine and deep breathing without any jerky movements of the body soothes the nerves and calms the mind. The streses of modern civilisation are a strain on the nerves for which Savasana is the best antidote.

When the body and the mind are constantly overworked, their natural efficiency diminishes. Modern social life, food, work and even so-called entertainment, such as disco dancing, make it difficult for people to relax. Many have even forgotten that rest and relaxation are Nature’s way of recharging.

Even while trying to rest, the average person wastes a lot of the body’s physical and mental energy through tension. More of our energy is spent in keeping the muscles in continual readiness than in actual useful work. In order to regulate and balance the body and mind, it is best to learn to economize our energy. We can do this best by learning to relax.

How To Learn To Relax

In the course of a day, the body usually produces all the substances and energy it needs. But these may be consumed within a few minutes by bad moods, anger or intense irritation. The process of eruption and repression of violent emotions often grows into a regular habit.

The result is disastrous for the body, and also for the mind. Yoga precribes a period of complete relaxation, when practically no energy or “Prana” is being consumed. Perfect relaxation must be practised on three levels: physical, mental and spiritual.

Physical Relaxation

Every action is the result of thought. But just as the mind may send a message to the muscles ordering them to contract, the mind may also send a message to bring relaxation to tired muscles.

At the end of every asana class, a complete physical relaxation is practised. This autosuggestion begins with the toes and moves upward through the muscles. Then messages are sent to the kidneys, liver and all the other internal organs. This relaxation position is known as Savasana, or the “Corpse Pose”.

Mental Relaxation Methods

When experiencing mental tension, it is advisable to breathe slowly and rhythmically for a few minutes. Soon the mind will become calm. You may experience a kind of floating sensation.

Spiritual Relaxation

However one may try to relax the mind, all tensions and worries cannot be completely removed until one reaches spiritual relaxation. As long as a person identifies with the body and mind, there will be worries, sorrows, anxieties, fear and anger.

These emotions bring tension. Yogis know that unless a person can withdraw from the body/mind idea and separate himself from the ego-consciousness, there is no way of obtaining complete relaxation.

The Yogi identifies himself with the all-pervading, all-powerful, all-peaceful and joyful Self, the pure Consciousness within. He knows that the source of all power, knowledge, peace and strength is in the Self, not in the body. We tune to this by asserting the real nature, that is “I am that pure Consciousness or Self.” This identification with the Self completes the process of relaxation.

Step-By-Step : Yoga Corpse Pose

1. You shouldn’t lie on plain ground but instead use a mat of some kind. Your surroundings need to be as neat as possible.
2. Lie in the centre of the mat.
3. You may lie down with your both knees bend first to have a feel of your upper, middle and lower back in contact with the ground first before straigthen your legs one by one.
4. Gently drop your right foot to your right and your left foot to your left so that your ankles can relax too.
5. Make sure your spine is straight and your shoulders are touching the ground.
6. Keep your arms wide but not too wide that you feel tension on your shoulders and arms.  A distance away from your armpit that you feel your shoulders and arms are comfortably relax.
7. Your palms facing upward and fingers absolutely relaxed.
8. Keep your eyes closed and concentrate on each and every breath. Be aware of your chest expanding while you inhale and contracting while you exhale. As you move upward, from your feet to your head, feel each part relaxing.
9. While doing all of this, try to stay awake and after 4-5 minutes you will feel this sense of relaxation spreading through your body.

Yoga Corpse Pose (Savasana) is the perfect end to a grueling session of yoga and leaves you feeling light, alive, relaxed and rejuvenated.

You have any experience or thought like to share?  You are welcome to leave it in my comment box below.  I am more than happy to hear your experiencce or thought you have.  Just be YourSelf! Drop your identity and relax…:-)

Namaste.

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