Take rest.

---

Guilty.

As a new yogi, I did not care for savasana. I'll sleep when I get home. I'm not paying for a yoga class to sleep.

This went on for a long time. I'm embarrassed to say, years. And one day, not sure why, I put down my sword and surrendered.

My body felt real light and tingly and then I woke up because gasp, I snored.

Savasana has become the favorite part of my practice. When I see my students roll their mat and peace out during this part of class I smile and peace salute back.

Not really. I gently or not so gently coax them to stay.

Because, just like I did, they are missing the point.

Savasana is also called corpse pose, a symbolic surrendering in the truest form. It is releasing what doesn't serve us, including the rush you've felt all day, the being on alert, the frenzy.

I found this great article in Yoga Journal about the benefits of savasana. Here are a few excerpts.

"Savasana is the absence of all patterns—neurological, emotional, and physical. It is the ultimate release of the known and unknown world, where awareness is all that is left, without the illusion of the separation of the seer. The world as a whole appears without the subject of 'I.'" -- Rodney Yee, yoga teacher and co-chair of the Urban Zen Health and Wellness Initiative.

“You are more than deserving of Savasana. Your nervous system will thank you. Learning how to be still in a busy world is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.” -- Sara Clark, yoga and mindfulness teacher

How do you experience savasana?

Share your thoughts!