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The first time you came to a yoga class you might have been pleasantly surprised by the final minutes of class when you

were instructed to lie down on your mat, close your eyes, and let your body sink into a deep state of relaxation. Perhaps you were treated to an eye pillow, soft blanket, calming music, and candles to further set the mood and quiet your mind. You soon learn that this sweet and simple ending to your yoga session is called "Savasana."

The importance of savasana is often overlooked amid the plethora of asanas focused on detailed alignment, strength and flexibility, which are practiced throughout a class. We may see savasana as an insignificant novelty, skipping it in our home practice to save time. In doing so, we cheat ourselves out of the profound benefits that this unassuming pose has to offer, the most obvious being stress relief.

For many of us, stress is such a regular part of our lives that we aren't even aware of the toll it takes on our bodies and in our lives. When a stressful situation occurs, whether it be a negative or positive experience, from outside or from within the mind, the body quickly shifts into "fight or flight" mode. During this time of increased mental and physical acuity, regulatory functions of the endocrine, respiratory, circulatory and digestive systems are compromised.

Following a fight or flight response, the body is designed to return to its normal functioning. But although the body is quick to switch into alert mode, it is slow to return to restorative mode. Consequently, when our nervous system is constantly stimulated, the body does not have the opportunity to adequately rest and heal. Savasana provides this opportunity.

During savasana, we consciously allow our body to slow down - to quiet the mind, the senses, and the nervous system and allow tension to drain from the muscles. When done at the end of a yoga session, savasana helps the body redistribute energy and obtain the greatest benefit of the yoga poses. Energy that was previously inaccessible becomes free to move, leaving us with a feeling of refreshment.

Opening the palms and releasing the jaw encourages relaxation in other areas where stress and tension often build up, such as the neck and shoulders. The mind remains aware, but becomes steady and calm, letting go of the demands of the day. The mind is especially difficult to slow down, but as with any asana, the more we practice savasana, the easier it becomes and the more we benefit.  

As we sink deeper into savasana, we might experience the feeling of being an "observer" - feeling separate from our body as well as our mind. We may observe the mind as if it is a movie screen, watching thoughts come and go and remaining detached from those thoughts, or we might experience a mental calm that is very rare. The mind feels vast and quiet and we are able to softly sink into total relaxation.

When we emerge from savasana, we feel refreshed and peaceful. The burdens of life feel a bit lighter and our inner balance is regained. In this receptive state of being, we are able to contemplate our deeper purposes in life. Even if you can only take a few minutes for it, never skip savasana.

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"O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed."

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, text 14