Prasarita Padottanasana Spotlight

We are only half way through this month. You know what that means? There are still 2 more weeks of Prasarita Padottanasana in the spotlight! I have taught it in all of my yoga classes with great response! I like to start with separating the feet as far as is comfortable and then moving into the pose - and hold it. Focus on keeping the weight back and in the feet. Come up and then moving the legs in 1/3 of the way 2 more times finally ending in Uttanasana. Then follow it up with standing poses - hold them a little longer than usual. Your legs will feel very strong and steady after working in Prasarita Padottanasana. And...after all that, Savasana is glorious. Ahhhhhhh.

Help for the Savasana (Relaxation Pose) Challenged

Do you have difficulties relaxing in Savasana? In our culture, it is simply not unusual to find those who cannot surrender in that position. Savasana is actually stimulating to our nervous system! Now I don’t mean stimulating like backbends or headstands, but a bit. The back body is about stimulating (hence the effect of backbends) and the front body relaxing and surrendering (hence the effect of forward folds). We do Savasana on our backs to keep us a little alert. Savasana is supposed to be conscious relaxation, not falling asleep. But when someone already has a very stimulated nervous system (in other words, stressed -- not uncommon in our world!) then Savasana can further stimulate it, rendering relaxation impossible.

If you need help relaxing, use Asavasana. (Whenever an “A” is placed in front of a Sanskrit word, it changes the word to its opposite.) Lie on your stomach over a bolster. You can see me here in the photo demonstrating it. I like to hang my head just a bit over the edge (letting the forehead have a downward angle helps relax the brain) but if that is uncomfortable for you, rest your head on the bolster, turning it to the other side halfway through the relaxation.

So?

Before we move on to our next pose, tell me, how did you do with the challenge? Did you do Savasana every day? Did you at least do it more often or longer? What happened?

Sleep, blessed sleep

This morning I came back to Savasana. I've been wanting to do it much more than I actually have. Not for lack of want because I want so much to relax (or at least that's what I think).
This morning I had the opportunity to sleep in which happens so infrequently. I'm staying at a hotel with several girlfriends without kids - I'm running on my own time. So what happens? I wake up - wide awake - at 6am. ugh. What did I do? I laid myself out on the bed in Savasana and focused on my breathing. I'm not sure how long I laid there. Eventually I rolled to my side and fell back asleep. Thanks Savasana!

I fight: Savasana

Back in May of this year, I found myself avoiding savasana. I wrote this about my experience and what I learned about the avoidance. I forgot about it because I do not practice a long savasana - ever - until this month's challenge - and - my yoga class last night.

I forgot that the last Wednesday of the month is restorative yoga. Usually, I don't attend that class except on the days I forget that it is the last Wednesday of the month. That class always ends with a long savasana. There I was again, a few minutes in wanting, wanting, and waiting for it to be over. Why? Again, why do I dislike this pose. Oh yes, it hurts! When I begin to really relax, my very loose joints and very open body feels like it is spilling across the floor and nothing is holding it together.

Here is the final paragraph of my post from May. I'm printing it out - nice and big and putting it in my yoga room where I am headed now to practice savasana.

i fight: the feelings of instability in Savasana by accepting them and trusting that I will learn whatever they are here to teach me.

(And perhaps all I need to do is set myself up in the Judith Lasater version of savasana - many, many blankets - and I will be just fine.)

The Challenge: Update

We are now three weeks into the month...how is the challenge going? Have you done Savasana daily? Or, at least, more often or longer than usual?

Savasana "Did You Knows"

Did you know...

...it takes 15-17 minutes for the body to relax? It is then that Savasana really begins...

...your hands and feet must be warm for your body to relax?

...the room must be darkened?

...there are three stages of Savasana:
1. Physiological relaxation
2. Pratyahara -- When you are no longer distracted by your senses.
3. Ashunya -- You only know you have achieved this after the fact. You have a feeling of having "returned" from somewhere. Your teacher maybe had to "wake" you but you know you weren't asleep.

...Savasana is the MOST important of all the poses and

...I suspect the one most skipped...

...Savasana will help reset your nervous system barometer to a slower level. (In other words, it helps you relax.)

...Savasana helps you reset old patterns, physiological, emotional, mental, spiritual, you name it!

...Savasana helps you absorb the benefits of your practice.

...can be done anytime, not necessarily right after your asana session. Do it right before bed!

Savasana: This Month's Challenge

We challenge all of you! Do Savasana every day for the month of September. Let us know how it affects you! If you need some assistance, here is a podcast from Laura for a guided 20-minute Savasana. Enjoy!