Have you ever gone to a gentle or chair yoga class and thought, I’m really here for Savasana?
I get it.
There’s something wonderful about getting to the end of class, lying down, closing your eyes, and knowing that for the next few minutes, there is absolutely nothing you need to do.
But here’s the question I want you to think about:
Why do we wait for yoga class to give ourselves permission to rest?
Savasana is more than the end of yoga class
Savasana is often translated as Corpse Pose, but I think of it much more simply as an opportunity for wakeful rest.
You’re not trying to accomplish anything. You’re not working on a pose. You’re not checking something off your list.
You’re giving yourself time to rest, relax, restore, and simply be with yourself.
And maybe that’s one reason Savasana can feel so good.
So much of our day is spent doing. There’s always something that needs our attention — another email, another load of laundry, another errand, another person who needs something from us.
Savasana gives us permission to stop.
But we don’t have to wait until the end of yoga class to do that.
What if you rested before everything was done?
I think sometimes we treat rest as something we earn.
I’ll rest when I finish this.
I’ll sit down when everything is taken care of.
I’ll slow down when things aren’t so busy.
But when is everything actually done?
There will almost always be something else we could be doing.
What if instead of waiting until everything was finished — or until you were completely exhausted — you gave yourself permission to rest simply because rest is something your body and mind need?
Bring Savasana home
You don’t need a yoga mat. You don’t even need to be doing yoga.
Lie down on the floor if that’s comfortable for you. Lie down on your bed. Get comfortable, close your eyes, and give yourself a few minutes to do nothing.
Savasana is different from taking a nap because the intention is to remain awake and present while you rest. But if you happen to fall asleep, that’s okay too. You don’t need to make rest another thing you have to do perfectly.
For this week, I want to invite you to practice giving yourself permission to rest.
Maybe it’s five minutes. Maybe it’s ten. Maybe today you have only a few quiet minutes available.
Instead of worrying about how long you rest, notice what happens when you allow yourself to stop.
What does your body feel like?
What does your mind do?
Do you immediately start thinking about everything you should be doing?
And can you let yourself stay anyway?
The Art of Rest
I think many of us could use a little more practice doing something that sounds incredibly simple:
Nothing.
If you’d like to experience what it feels like to intentionally make space for rest, I’d love to have you join me for The Art of Rest on Saturday, November 7 at 11:45 a.m. Eastern, in Port Orange or live online.
We’ll explore gentle movement followed by a guided Yoga Nidra practice, with Cat Laiacone accompanying our rest with crystal bowls and chimes. You can practice from a chair or lying down, and no previous experience is needed.
Learn more about The Art of Rest
For today, you don’t need to wait for yoga class.
Give yourself a little time to rest.