Relaxation or corpse pose is essential to practice at the end
of every yoga practice. This posture rejuvenates the body, mind
and spirit while reducing stress and tension.
Lying on your back, let the arms and legs drop open, with the arms
about 45 degrees from the side of your body. Make sure you are warm
and comfortable, if you need to place blankets under or over your
body.
Close the eyes, and start by deepening the breath using dirga pranayama.
Allow your whole body to become soft and heavy, letting it relax
into the floor. As the body relaxes, feel the whole body rising
and falling with each breath.
Scan the body from the toes to the fingers to the crown of the
head, looking for tension, tightness and contracted muscles.
Consciously release and relax any areas that you find. If you need
to rock or wiggle that part of your body from side to side.
Release all control of the breath, the mind, and the body. Let
your body move deeper and deeper into a state of total relaxation.
Stay in savasana for 5 to 15 minutes.
To release: slowly deepen the breath, wiggle the fingers and toes,
reach the arms over your head and stretch the whole body, exhale
bend the knees into the chest and roll over to one side coming into
a fetal position. When you are ready, slowly inhale up to a seated
position.
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