I'm Only Here for Savasana
- Jul 1
- 4 min read
Dear Friend,
Savasana is often perceived as a "feel-good" pose—a casual opportunity to relax for a few minutes before coming out of class. After all, all we seem to do is "just lie there."
In reality, most schools of yoga, and almost every renowned yoga teacher I've practiced with, consider Savasana to be the most important yoga pose. Some even describe it as the ultimate and most advanced posture—one that can take years to truly master. I've met many lifelong yoga practitioners who say that it was their very first experience of Savasana that made them fall in love with yoga, suggesting that it can potentially be a gateway to a lifelong yoga practice.
In August, I'll be offering a workshop dedicated entirely to Savasana, along with a new weekly Thursday evening class centered around it. Before then, I'd like to plant a few Savasana seeds by sharing some thoughts about this multi-layered pose, which is often misunderstood, in the hope of sparking your interest and perhaps drawing you into the depth of the Savasana experience. If you'd like to take a deeper dive and refine your understanding and practice, I hope you'll join the workshop and/or the weekly classes.
I have to confess: Savasana is my favorite yoga pose, but it took me a while to appreciate its tremendous potential and depth. I wasn't particularly impressed at first. Other aspects of yoga initially drew me in. Looking back, I suspect that's because relaxing has never been especially difficult for me—it has always come fairly naturally. In fact, there were periods in my life when relaxing too much was a problem. For someone with a personality type like mine, Savasana doesn't tend to trigger an immediate revelation. It can take a while before its depth begins to reveal itself.
Others, however, have a genuinely difficult time doing nothing, remaining still, or simply resting. For them, Savasana can be transformative from the get-go.
What is the meaning of the name "Savasana"?
Savasana literally means "corpse pose," which may be confusing because it can be interpreted as having some kind of morbid subtext. As I understand it, in India death is regarded as one of many natural phenomena. There tends to be less fear and dramatization surrounding it than in many Western cultures. As a result, the image of a dead body can simply serve as an analogy for complete surrender to gravity—of every muscle, bone, and joint—without any additional psychological meaning or intention. Therefore, the first stage of the Savasana journey is letting go of any death-related associations or emotional triggers.
Why is Savasana considered such an important part of yoga asana?
There are several reasons, and I'll only touch on a couple of them briefly.
Integration
In Savasana, when practiced well, the body is allowed to rest deeply in order to process, absorb, and integrate the effects of the more active part of the practice—particularly on the subtle level of the nervous system and what is called in yoga prana, or vital energy. During a typical practice, we move the body—especially the spine—in ways that stimulate the flow and circulation of prana. If we immediately stand up and continue with our day, this flow can turn into restlessness or overstimulation, and many of the deeper benefits of the practice may never fully integrate. Savasana gives the body and mind time and space to settle and digest the practice.
Resting Without Sleeping
When practiced as intended, as conscious rest, Savasana also serves as an effective preparation for more advanced forms of yoga that require sitting still for extended periods while remaining awake and alert rather than dull or lethargic. This is one of the main reasons it is considered such a challenging pose. We intentionally take a sleeping position while keeping the mind calm, attentive, and awake. The ability to hold these seemingly opposite states in balance—a body at complete rest and a wakeful mind—is one of the essential qualities yoga encourages us to cultivate.
Common Challenges
People often experience Savasana in very different ways. There are two common difficulties that tend to arise.
Stillness Feels Difficult
For those who find it difficult to remain still or even close their eyes, and who tend to become restless in situations like this, Savasana can be a powerful antidote. It may take time before simply remaining in the pose for more than a few moments feels possible. Our default mode is often one of doing. When we stop acting outwardly, the mind often continues acting inwardly, rehearsing conversations, solving problems, making plans, or replaying memories. We can begin to notice the urge to move or do something, the feelings of agitation or unease, and gradually become more familiar with them without immediately reacting. Over time, we can start to cultivate a state of being instead of doing. For many people, this is an entirely new experience. Within the yoga tradition, the ability to be still and fully present is considered an essential skill for promoting wellbeing.
Sleepiness Takes Over
For others, the opposite challenge appears. They become sleepy very quickly, drift off, or get lost in daydreaming. Some people may even fall asleep completely. In these cases, Savasana may require gentle intention—a quiet reminder to stay awake and present whenever possible, even if only for brief moments between periods of mind fog. The key is to do this without creating tension, remaining patient and at ease with whatever is available. Sometimes sleep is exactly what we need in that moment.
In Summary
There are many more aspects of Savasana to explore. How we position the body, how we breathe, and the way we direct awareness can all meaningfully influence the effects of the pose. Different mindfulness techniques can also deepen the experience.
Like every yoga posture, Savasana gradually reveals itself through consistent practice, clear intention, and attention to detail. Over time we begin to discover both obvious and subtle refinements that help the pose work for us. We also learn when it needs to be adapted to suit our current state of body, mind, and external circumstances. Yoga should always be adapted to the individual—not the other way around. This should not remain merely a slogan, but become an all-encompassing attitude embodied through every moment of practice.
If you find yourself curious about these kinds of topics - join a workshop, a retreat, or any other event on offer.
Looking forward to sharing yoga with you!
Wishing everyone peace and happiness,
♡ Oren
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