21 June Ray Child June 21, 2012 The Importance of Savasana Body, Hot Yoga, Mind, New Students, Yoga advantages of hot yoga, body mind life, calm mind, dallas hot yoga, mindfulness, relax, relieve stress 0 Comment “Lie down, heels together, palms up. Close your eyes.” Your teacher has put you into your final Savasana. She turns out the lights and leaves the room. Do you: Open your eyes immediately, hop up, hang up your mat, and flee the room? Lie there for a few minutes, worrying about “to dos” still on your list? Acknowledge the effort you just exuded and allow your breath to assist in clearing your head and calming your body? All of the Above. We are all guilty of 4, but as part of our yoga practice the goal is to find ourselves engaged in 3 more often than not at class end. Savasana allows the body and mind to reset. WHAT: Savasana (corpse pose) is often the most important and most difficult posture in a yoga practice. “Posture” you say? Yes, just as Triangle is a posture, so is Savasana, and it must be practiced consistently to reap its numerous benefits. HOW: The alignment for Savasana is internal, focusing on stillness and single-pointed awareness, as opposed to a physical "feet here, arms here" arrangement. It challenges us to turn inward in order to relax the body, regulate the breath and focus the mind. Practice calming the body - refrain from adjusting your clothes, wiping away sweat, or chugging the rest of your water. Instead, quietly get a sip of water if you need it and lie down on your back, keeping the eyes open so that you stay present mentally in the room. WHEN: During our Hot Yoga class, Savasana is first introduced as a transition into the floor series. Use it to reconnect with your breath, slow your heart rate and let your muscles recover after the rigorous standing series. Try to repeat this same observance of Savasana as you return to this pose throughout the floor series and at the end of class. WHY: Your practice has given the nervous system lots of new information, and Savasana allows the body integrate all it has done and experienced. It needs this time to pause before you reenter the busy world outside the yoga studio. Calming the body and mind gets easier (and faster!) with practice. The more you practice this technique in the hot room, the easier it will become outside the room--even in stressful business meetings and traffic. We understand the time pressures our students are under during their busy days, and we are always grateful that you make time to come practice with us. Savasana is part of your class experience. Practice this posture with the same commitment you give the others. Give yourself this reward at the end of class. The mental “I did it” and time to breathe will give you even more energy for what is left on your plate whenever you do peel yourself off your mat. Related Articles Clear Your Mind Are you stressed? It's no secret, of course, that modern lifestyles often go hand-in-hand with cluttered, unsettled minds. Chances are, if you are not experiencing stress right at this moment, you have recently or will soon. Eager to find a "fix," well-intentioned folks advise slowing down and taking time for what's important--while simultaneously giving constant tips for fitting more into already packed schedules. But HOW? How to Really Advance Your Practice As yoga teachers, we sometimes hear students categorize themselves and others as “beginner” or “advanced.” It is interesting to hear people talk this way because they usually base the label on the number of classes attended, length of time they’ve practiced, or whether they can do certain postures. The fact is that everyone is advancing--it just looks different for each individual. Personal Transformation Through Yoga I lived with depression, anxiety and poor health throughout my teenage and most of my adult life. Even through all of that I knew that I needed to make positive changes in my life but I did not know what, where or how to begin to make those changes. Yet this unexplainable feeling deep within me knew that I needed to start this journey as soon as possible. I was guided to a lady who practiced yoga and meditation and she shared with me the benefits that she had gained from years of practice. So I began to research both subjects Top 5 Excuses for Skipping Practice Hot yoga can be tough. Dallas hot yoga can be tougher, given the heat outside. Here at Sunstone, our groundbreaking series of options can help you adjust to your body’s needs from workout to workout – but first, you’ve got to get in the studio. Preventing Injury: Accept Your Body “Set your intention before you begin, and accept where your body is in your practice today.” If you regularly attend Sunstone Yoga, you know we consistently tell you to listen to your body and honor it. Do you truly hear those words . . . and do you listen? Accepting where your body is each day--whether you are attending a Fire class, walking up stairs, or just bringing in the groceries --is key to preventing injury. How to Be a Good Student Dear Student, It is an honor and privilege to guide you through your practice each day you’re in my class. Teachers do not exist without students. It is through you that I am able to refine my craft. My hope is that every time you leave the studio you feel fulfilled, in a different mindset than you entered and empowered with more knowledge about yourself and your practice. Comments are closed.