In most of our Yoga classes, Shavasana is the final resting pose that we suggest to never miss out on. Why should you always do Shavasana at the end of your workout and what benefits can it bring you?
What is Shavasana?
Shavasana is primarily an asana, a posture in Yoga that is used for relaxation usually at the end of the session. Etymologically, the word comes from Sanskrit ‘Śava, “corpse” and Asana, “posture” or “seat”, translating into Corpse Pose which iterates lying full length on your back with a fully relaxed body. Shavasana asks for controlled breathing, complete relaxation of the mind, an inward awareness where you scan your whole body for any signs of muscular tension or stress. As you slowly internalize all these feelings, you become more aware of your body, more aware of your chest and abdomen rising and falling with your breath.
Sounds easy, right? In truth, although it may look easy, Shavasana is considered one of the most difficult poses to master. Many Athletes would easily bend, twist and balance but would struggle just lying on the floor. Doing nothing. Gradual relaxation really is harder than it looks!
You don’t have to save Shavasana only for the end of your practice. Shavasana and its variants are great for mid practice or even any other time of the day when you want to bring your focus inwards and practice a bit of meditation. Go ahead and give it a try before we go into detail about its benefits.
Press play to try Shavasana!
Benefits of doing Shavasana
While in most other kinds of workouts it’s natural to head straight for the door after you are done – Yoga asks for the opposite. While you may feel like you don’t want to lie there quietly after the kind of activity you do in a Yoga workout, it’s important to wind down and let your body and mind absorb the effect of the practice. Here are 4 reasons you should never skip Shavasana:
- Balances the nervous system
Shavasana balances your nervous system. The human body has two aspects: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. While the first one is what springs you into action the latter is what promoted relaxation. Since our lifestyles are constantly creating an imbalance here, balancing these two through Shavasana is the best thing to reduce stress and recharge and rejuvenate your body for better performance!
- Quieten the mind
Shavasana allows you an opportunity to move to a quiet and present state that promoted calmness in our minds. Many times Shavasana will also let you enter a meditative state and promote mindfulness where you can let go of worries and lt your mind drift. - Focus on the breath
It is no news that a lot of Yoga is focused on the breath. While beginners have a hard time keeping track of their breath in their practice because of everything else that they have to get right, Shavasana presents the perfect opportunity to focus on the breath and understand how much control you actually have over it.
- Adapt your body to a passive state
Yes! It’s extremely important to let your body go into a passive state after all the activity you do in a Yoga workout. It is during this phase that your body can process everything it achieved during your practice. Your heart rate slows down, your blood pressure lowers, there is a release of tension with every breath as your body recovers from the fatigue.
Shavasana is a must after every practice and there are a few things you can do to make sure it goes well. Remember to focus on every breath and mentally scan yourself to let go of stress. Stay for as long as you feel good, there is no right or wrong duration! Next time you reach the end of your Yoga workout remember to not just partake in Shavasana, but also, dont rush it!
Convinced? Every Skill Yoga workout has Shavasana at the end. Try it out for yourself!