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3 Reasons to Stay for Savasana
From the Urban Yoga Blog, written by "Kim"
Savasana translates to corpse pose. It is the final pose of a yoga practice. In savasana the body is still, the breath flows naturally, and if you’re lucky the mind becomes quiet and there is this essence of dropping into one’s self.
Savasana can be the most challenging part of a class. We are invited to just be, cultivating effortlessness and non-doing. This can be tough for many of us, living in this multi-tasked, fast-paced lifestyle that has become the standard of normalcy in our country. Our minds and our bodies are not used to being quiet.
The good news is that we are already making an effort to create some sort of connection, just by walking through the doors of the studio and showing up to class. On the other hand, many of us feel like we don’t have time to do nothing for ten minutes, we just have too much to do. Coming from a self-titled savasana addict, here are some reasons to stay for savasana.
#1 Savasana is a crucial part of the practice.
It allows for the assimilation and integration of the “work” done throughout the practice.
Imagine your body is a garden. Your asana coupled with mindful breathing is the planting of the seeds in your garden. These seeds are powerful and potent. They are the seeds of transformation. They allow us to shift and transform our own energy, freeing ourselves from illusion, learned tendencies, and obstacles that may be hindering our personal growth.
Savasana is comparable to watering the seeds and giving them sunlight. Savasana nourishes these precious seeds of transformation so that they take root and begin to grow and transform in your body on a cellular level.
Not a gardener? Try this, your practice is equal to sitting at the computer and doing work, writing, emailing, designing, and/or researching, whatever your work is. Savasana is comparable to saving your data. You would never spend an hour doing work on the computer, then not save it, am I right?
#2 Savasana triggers the para-sympathetic nervous system, our rest and restore responses.
Our heart rate slows and the breath becomes smooth and steady. We are creating space for healing and deep relaxation from within. The result of this is that we are better equipped to navigate through life off of the mat. By allowing space for healing and rest with in ourselves, we are able to take care of our responsibilities off the mat from our overflow, not depleting ourselves energetically. It takes about seven minutes to really settle in. If you can, I suggest a good ten minutes at least, for an hour and fifteen minute practice.
#3 [As it says in the Yoga Sutras], Yogas chitta vritti nirodha, yoga is the stilling of the mind.
The physical practice of asana is meant to be a pre-cursor, a “warm-up” if you will, to prepare yourself for seated meditation.
We may get glimpses of this stilling through out our asana practice, small spaces between action, where the mind is calm, the body supported, and the breath steady. However, we are consciously focused on breath and body. There is still a sense of “doing”.
Savasana is an invitation to let go of all trying and doing; to be completely open to doing nothing. We are invited to unplug from the busy monkey mind, and in turn, plug into the deep well of peace, support, and knowing that is essentially our true nature.
When this connection occurs, there is a sense of clarity and contentment.
For many of us, savasana may be the first time in our lives where we feel at peace, like we are welcoming ourselves back home. This feeling, this connection, is often what sparks an interest in developing a deeper spiritual practice. This starts with meditation, which leads to the stilling of the mind. The more you meditate the easier it is to connect to that stillness when life gets crazy. It’s kind of like muscle memory, but for the soul, you tap in and connect to source, to stillness, again and again, and over time that current of support and ease is more readily available. This allows us to act from a place that resonates with our deepest longings and is in tune with our essential nature. Life becomes enjoyable, not just manageable.
Savasana is truly a gift to give your self. Every one deserves ten minutes a day to be still and connect to peace. Every person I know could use a bit more not doing and just being in their life, (myself included). The next time savasana rolls around, […] get comfy. Your nervous system needs it, and you deserve it. You may find that your perspective of savasana moves from “I don’t wannasana” to “so-awe-some-nah”.
Bikram Yoga on the Road
By Jessica Frent
Monday I flew to New York’s JFK airport, Tuesday I flew from New York to Chicago and Thursday back to Scottsdale. Each day I had the joy of practicing at a new studio, with instructors I hadn’t experienced before. Although it’s the same dialogue and postures, it’s never the same. I hear the dialogue differently each time, learn something new, and experience new challenges. If you’re like me and your work keeps you frequently away from home, you know how challenging it can be to maintain a regular practice. Travel time and meetings might leave little room in your schedule for a 90 minute class but I have found a little dedication and planning can help you keep up your practice when you're traveling.
Whether you are traveling for work or on holiday most major cities across the globe offer Bikram Yoga and I make it a habit to always take a class after long flights to minimize jet lag. When you schedule your next trip, go to the Bikram Yoga class finder to find a studio near where you are staying.
Visiting Phoenix or Scottsdale, Arizona? We'd love to have you in our studios for your Bikram Yoga class "on the road"! We offer great drop-in rates, as well as an Out-of-Towner package (includes 5 consecutive days of yoga AND a mat and towel on each visit for just $50!). Click here to see our locations and class times.
Five Keys to Improve Your Practice
By Stephen Rumpp
Determination
- To start! And if necessary, to start again! To keep coming to class especially on those days you don't want to! To make up your mind to stay your course! To let nothing get in your way. To make room for your daily yoga practice! To stay close!
Focus
- To discover new edges in your practice! To experience your improved ability to breathe while working hard! To cultivate a tuned mind-body connection and improved alignment in your body! To allow yourself to go places you did not think possible in your practice (and in your life)!
Patience
- To stick to a plan! To give your body time to transform! To have bad days! To have breakthrough days! To work through injury and experience the healing! To have your friends and family join you when they are ready! To build a stronger foundation each time you practice! To keep going no matter what!
Self Control
- To manage your expectations and your thoughts! To love yourself! To surrender to life's power! To manage your response to things out of your control! To avoid drama! To make appropriate life choices! To pause, breathe and then respond to upsets! To surround yourself with people who lift you up!
Concentration
- To try the right way! To start again when things don't go your way! To breathe evenly! To stay in the moment while practicing! To connect with your compassion! To make adjustments! To know good pain from bad pain! To Self Realize!
Never, Ever, Ever Give Up!!!!
Student Spotlight: Bob
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I was having a conversation with a client and she mentioned Bikram Yoga, I had never heard of it before. Ironically, as I was driving home that day I noticed the Bikram sign when the studio was across the street. I stopped in to check it out and met my first instructor, Lora; the next day was my first class and I was hooked (Bob has been practicing Bikram Yoga for over 6 years now!). Before practicing Bikram Yoga I was involved with Martial Arts and Weight Training. It seemed I was always recovering from the sessions and occasionally in a healing mode.
Bikram Yoga is teaching me to work on realigning the balance between my body & mind, to apply the peace we learn during class in our daily lives. To –“ Let No One Steal your Peace”. The yoga has helped me through the expected and unexpected lows that life presents to all of us at one time or another. When I was 17 I was in a motorcycle accident. I dislocated my hip & shoulder. I have had chronic, neck & back issues since. I tried the chiropractor when I was younger, then went to Physical Therapy & different exercise programs. Bikram Yoga has helped me not only control the symptoms but also I see improved flexibility and mobility. I attended Nicole’s Boot Camp last fall and am working on my alignment for each posture; it’s amazing how the slightest change can have such a direct effect. I would say Balancing Stick is my favorite posture. I feel that’s the one out of 26 that I might actually be doing right – only 25 more to go.
My advice to new students is strive for consistency in your practice. I have to tell myself this one as well. I sometimes will do a challenge and end up then taking off several weeks. It’s like starting all over again. Learn to focus on yourself, it’s your practice, your time, let it happen. Also - Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate - I have seen my life flash before my eyes several times on my mat over the years when I don’t pay attention to hydration.
I love Bikram Yoga for many reasons. The two that stand out are: The Teachers & The Studio. I have probably experienced close to 100 different BY instructor’s classes over the years. And while the 26 postures are a constant, it’s the individual teacher’s passion that makes each class unique. Through their own personality they are always encouraging you to do your best, pointing out subtle changes that will make a difference in your posture. They are the energy conduit that makes you want to practice to the best of your ability, to try to not only find your edge but to see what’s on the other side. I always share my BY experience whenever I can with other people. I let them know what an amazing collection of people practice Bikram Yoga. People from all walks of life sharing and experiencing a common goal together. It’s a cross-section of the world in many ways. It’s the realization that thousands of people are doing the same thing, for the same reason, every day.