In traditional yoga, the sole purpose of the asanas (physical poses) was to develop strength and flexibility for longer meditation sits. In other words, it was a spiritual exercise designed to prepare the mind, body, and spirit for prayer. All of today’s power vinyasa flows, fancy inversions, intense stretches, and emphasis on physicality is simply embellishment and marketing.
In this wind-down portion of our metaphorical yoga class, we incorporate floor stretches on our back to integrate moves from the standing sequences and prepare for the ultimate pose: savasana. Savasana, otherwise known as ‘corpse pose’, is when we physically lay our body to rest and cease fluctuations of the mind. It’s when we remember our source and come in to our true nature.
As much as I love moving and grooving, this is a reminder that the purest, most potent part of a movement practice may be the moments when we don’t move at all.
Move: A yoga body is one that can rest in stillness.
Supported Bridge - use a block to relieve tension from low back
Virtual legs up the wall - use strap to gently pull leg over to one side, then the other
Happy Baby
Forehead to knee, wrap yourself in a ball
Meditate: The Five Remembrances are a set of Buddhist contemplations, described as ‘things we know innately but like to forget’. They are a reminder of our impermanence and the precious nature of life.
I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old.
I am of the nature to have ill health. There is no way to escape having ill health.
I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.
All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.
I inherit the results of my actions, body, speech, and mind. My actions are my continuation.
Message: Everything we own and cherish will one day be parted from us; our actions are our only true belongings.
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