Now And Zen Yoga

Savasana (corpse pose) is about completely letting go in body and mind.  The obstacles to experiencing a good Savasana are sleepiness, boredom, mental agitation, and thinking you do not need Savasana.  After a yoga practice, savasana is a good way to bring balance back into the body and the mind before we go off and continue the rest of our day.  It is important to allow the body and mind to relax in this way … totally letting go.  We seldom get that type of release in our daily lives, so savasana can become a wonderful oasis of bliss in our very busy daily life.

Savasana is not sleep, though sometimes we may doze off while in the pose.  Sleep is being unconscious and the mind is unaware.  In Savasana we are conscious as we experience the relaxation of our mind and our body.  We consciously let go of the tensions, the stress, all that we hold on to within the body.  We also let go of our thoughts and allow the mind too take a break.  All day long the mind is working as we think, plan, work and play.  Taking a few minutes in your day to simply “be” rather than silently making up yourgrocery list while laying on savasana … this can make a big difference in the rest of your day.

We can easily be distracted in Savasana by our own thoughts, or by the space around us.  As thoughts drift through your mind, simply let them happen.  Do not try to linger on any one thought.  And as we recognize sounds and sensations in the space around us, trying simply to recognize them and move on.  We are not holding on to any thoughts, ideas, or experiences in Savasana.  We simply let go. 

 A friend of mine was getting in his car to leave a busy parking lot.  As he starting to back out of his parking space he looked behind him.  He stepped on the brakes as he saw that a young woman had begun to walk behind his car.  The young woman turned and gave him a scowl to show her disapproval at his lack of awareness.  As she continued on her way, my friend noticed a rolled up yoga mat under her arm.  As he told the story to me, he said that he had hoped she was on her way TO yoga class.  Because  if she was coming FROM yoga class … it obviously had not worked.

You may or may not know what a chakra is (yet).  But I am sure that you can appreciate fine jewelry.  The collections by Marsya are designed to integrate Yoga, art and life.  These handmade pieces are designed in Vermont and can be ordered in both sterling silver or 14k gold.  You may contact Marsya via her website to order this beautiful jewelry.  www.marsya.com

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season it is easy to let a few things slide as our social calendars fill up.  This is a hard time to keep up with your regular yoga practice, and yet doing yoga when life gets hectic can be the one piece of solitude in our otherwise busy weeks.  Be sure to carve out a little time each week to either attend your beloved yoga class.  If that simply is impossible, pick a few of your favorite postures and put them together for a short 10-15 minutes home practice.  A little yoga goes a long way during the holiday season.