5 Important Benefits of Savasana
Savasana is a Sanskrit word, where ‘sava’ means corpse, and ‘asana’ means pose. It is famously known as the “sleeping pose”. Whether you’re doing sun salutations, taking a HIIT class, or cycling, exercise has a profound effect on the body. Your heart beats faster, your body sweats, and your lungs breathe more heavily. In other words, exercise puts stress on the body — and taking Savasana or meditating after a workout helps bring it back to homeostasis, or your body’s balanced state.
When yoga students are pressed for time, one of the first things to go is Savasana. That brief period of laying in corpse pose at the end of class can feel indulgent when you’ve got a million other things to cross off your to-do list. But you might miss out on several mind and body benefits by skipping Savasana after yoga, HIIT, or any other workout.
When you think of Savasana more broadly as a mindfulness meditation practice that can be used after any type of exercise (not just yoga), this seemingly inactive period is actually powerful.
Savasana allows the body to absorb the full effects of the workout, especially in this active, overstimulated world, having a period of forced rest to do nothing but focus on the breath is a chance to really let go.
Here are some of the biggest advantages of Savasana, and how it can be used as a compliment to any exercise.
Savasana relieves physical and mental stress that builds during a workout
“Your body doesn’t differentiate between stress from running from a tiger, having a long day at work, or a run in the park,” says Dr. Carla Manly, a clinical psychologist and yoga and meditation instructor. “Exercise puts us in that fight-or-flight state. Those situations trigger the body to flood itself with adrenaline and cortisol. The body shuts down all but its critical functions.” Taking a rest post-workout counteracts those stress responses in the body.
It’s not just about our hormones, though. Savasana as a meditation practice also helps the organs return to regular functioning after performing in overdrive whilst exercising, thus aiding recovery. Meditation has huge benefits for physical health, such as reduced blood pressure, increased immunity and improved lung function.
When we allow the body to wind down after exercise — rather than bolting to the grocery store or back to the office — it creates a sense of calmness. And studies show that a regular meditation practice can help reduce stress and anxiety for the long term.
Rewarding hard work with Savasana may help you build an exercise habit
Turning exercise into a regular routine can be a challenge. Most of us can come up with an array of excuses to skip it. At our core, we’re animals and we work on a reward system, either consciously or subconsciously. That period of rest is like a built-in reward system. Knowing that you can bliss out, either in traditional Savasana or simply by meditating on a park bench, could offer an incentive to carry on with your yoga practice, and continue to do so.
Savasana may help you keep your post-workout high throughout the day
You know that natural high you get after exercise? Savasana might help to prolong your elevated mood long after you’ve stepped off the mat. If you’re able to really slow it down and enjoy the rest, you can take that relaxation through the next part of your day. It lets the body flood with feel good neurochemicals that help you sustain your good mood.
There’s also long-term mental health benefits from combining mindfulness with exercise. A 2016 study found that people with clinical depression saw immense improvements in their symptoms when they meditated for 30 minutes before hitting the treadmill twice a week for eight weeks.
Savasana builds resilience we can use in our daily lives
Surprisingly, Savasana is considered one of the most challenging poses in yoga. It’s not easy to lay down, relax the breath, and silence the chatter in the mind. But disciplining the mind and body to meditate after rigorous activity builds resiliency that can be used in other areas of life.
“When we’re able to take that rest, we tend to be less shakable by external events. It gives us inner confidence and well-being,” shares Manly.
Just like you learn to let go of life’s little worries when you’re in Savasana, you also develop the skills to react mindfully during a difficult situation.
Savasana keeps you present and more joyful
How often are you thinking of something other than what you’re doing right now? A 2010 study that gathered iPhone app responses from 2,250 adults worldwide revealed that almost half our thoughts have nothing to do with what’s going on at any given moment.
Upon further analysis, the data also showed that people tended to be less happy when their thoughts did not align with their actions.
Savasana and meditation can help us focus on the here and now, potentially making us feel more joyful throughout our lives.