Savasana

In the Yoga Sutra, written by Patanjali, there is little mention of doing yoga poses (asana). In fact, there are only three lines dedicated to doing asana. Patanjali suggests using a posture that is steady and comfortable and to focus on being totally relaxed. "Use an asana that is steady and comfortable. Focus your attention on being totally relaxed and you will have freedom from dualities" 2:46-48.

That was some 5,000 years ago. Today there are literally thousands of different asana from which we can choose to incorporate into our yoga practice. Let's begin by looking at the pose suggested by Patanjali - a steady and comfortable pose.

What may be steady and comfortable for one person may not be for another person. So, let's take a pose that most of us might agree on that is steady and comfortable - a supine position (lying on your back).  Savasana  (Shaa-vash-naa) or "corpse pose" is usually done between a series of poses (vinyasa) or as the last pose at the end of a yoga session. Savasana is also sometimes referred to as the resting pose.

Although savasana is a non-moving pose, one where you are lying on your back, is not easy to do because of the mind. Even with all great intentions of not having your mind wander; in a fairly short time it will take on a mind of it's own, hardly without you realizing it. "Oh, I forgot, I need to call Julie right now."  `

There are two things you can do when your thoughts encourage you to get up from savasana: 
  1) Recognize you are having a thought, dismiss it and stay in savasana.
  2) Act on the thought.

The whole idea of savasana is to see through the charade, let the thought go and stay in the pose. This practice gives you power over your thoughts and the more you practice the more powerful you become. The ability to recognize thoughts and decide to act on them or not is a very powerful tool for everyone. Staying connected and in control of your thoughts, your reactions, actions, and emotions improves the power of the Self - the ultimate mind.