Believe it or not, the hardest Yoga pose of all is the one that sounds the easiest – Savasana. It is, however, an essential asana. Also known as the Corpse Pose, it is easy to perform but extremely difficult to master. Savasana requires almost no physical strength or flexibility but it challenges the mind and body in several ways.
It enables the performer to be more aware of the self and the natural breathing pattern. Practicing Savasana is a great way to engage in mindful awareness. While Yoga classes are a lot about physical fitness these days, yoga is much more than that. Want to attend Yoga classes near your home or office? Get FITPASS for access to 3,500+ gyms and fitness studios across India.
1. Physical Benefits of Savasana
Savasana can be considered the culmination of your yoga class – other asanas help the body unwind while the savasana helps you reap the benefits of those asanas. It relaxes the muscular and skeletal tension. Performing savasana for a longer time dispels the tightness on the surface of the muscles to make you aware of the stress present deeper in your muscles.
Some trainers suggest a minimum of 6 minutes of savasana after an hour of yoga practice, while others suggest smaller periods after every 30 minutes of practice. Regardless of the one you choose or you are asked to practice at the yoga class, performing it is essential. Practicing it in combination with pranayama makes it easier. For example, count down with each breath. For this reason, yoga instructors usually guide you through it.
2. Mental Benefits of Savasana
Doing the Savasana helps the body relax by minimizing the sensory stimulations and external distractions. It grounds the body, which allows the mental energy to be channeled inward and the mind is enabled to explore the body from the inside.
Attending yoga classes increases body awareness and makes you interoceptive. Interoception is an insight into the physiological condition of the body; it is associated with the autonomic nervous system and autonomic motor control. The former controls the automatic or unconscious body functions like the heartbeat, breathing, and digestive processes. Performing the savasana increases interoception, which is associated with decreased anxiety and depression. Savasana does not only calm the mind but reduces stress and fatigue, lowers blood pressure, relieves headaches and improves sleep as well. Finally, Savasana is also known to facilitate the active beta brainwaves that are responsible for creativity.
3. Spiritual benefits of Yoga
Savasana helps reaps the spiritual benefits of Yoga. Savasana is usually the last asana – the best time to channel the energy inward and revitalize body and mind. Savasana allows you to explore the Pratyahara – the 5th limb of yoga – the practice of withdrawing from the senses and gaining mastery over external stimulus. It is quite complex and makes Savasama one of the hardest poses to perform and master.
Attend yoga classes 3-4 times every week and never skip the end when the savasana is performed to reap its benefits.