20 Minutes for Savasana

The 20 minutes I spend in savasana have become favorite minutes of the day for me. Pronounced SHAH-VAH-SAH-NAH, it means “corpse pose” in Sanskrit. I schedule into my day this dedicated time to be still, rest and reflect. Even though I am busy and often have to schedule it in between other activities, I have been doing it long enough that I really can drop into relaxation for that short, sweet time.

Savasana is the pose of deep relaxation in Yoga. We are supported by the earth, which grounds us and balances our energy. If lying flat on the ground is not comfortable, we can support our body with props. My favorite are a pillow or folded blanket under the head/neck/shoulders; a rolled blanket or bolster under the thighs/knees; a light blanket over the body; an eye covering/washcloth/scarf over the eyes. Set the timer for 20 minutes and ahhhh.

We are all quite busy during the day, either through moving the body or engaging the mind. The part of the nervous system most active at this time is called sympathetic, also known as the “fight or flight response.” Savasana quiets the sympathetic system by activating the complementary system known as parasympathetic, also known as the “rest and digest response.” As its name suggests, the parasympathetic response encourages better digestion, elimination, breathing and sleeping.

And when you practice Savasana every day, all of these crucial body functions become more regulated.

You might like to take the Savasana challenge, practicing every day for 21 days or even 40 days. What benefits do you hope for? What changes actually occur? I’d love to hear about your experience, but please wait 20 minutes to get in touch with me.