Sava- Corpse
Mrta- Death
Asana- Pose
This move isn’t really a move at all. It’s motionless, yet so much is going on while remaining still in this pose. The main purpose of this asana is to restore and assimilate. A reboot for our bodies, minds and spirits.
Benefits:
Strengthening, especially in the abs, back, and leg muscles.
Challenging but improves balance and coordination.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Weight evenly distributed over the standing foot.
Muscles are engaged in standing leg.
Muscles are engaged and lifted in standing leg. Foot is flexed and kneecap is pointing down towards the floor.
Both legs are fully extended.
Lower belly is toned and lifted.
Benefits:
Strength in core.
Stretches outer hip on front leg and quad on back leg.
Foundation & General Alignment:
10 fingertips and 2 feet on ground.
The feet are active. Front foot is in tadasana. Back foot, toes are curled under, push out through back heel.
Fingertips are on the floor in line with the front foot. If you can keep you upper back from rounding you can put your hands flat on the ground.
Keep back leg straight.
If you are plagued with chronic indigestion, yoga could become your gut’s BFF…
Benefits:
Increases flexibility in the spine.
“Massages” internal organs.
Helps with sciatica.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Both sitting bones are weighted on the floor.
One leg is folded under, while the other is bent up with foot on floor outside opposite thigh.
One hand is placed behind back lined up with spine. The other hand hold the knee of the bent knee.
Pelvis is in a neutral position. Do not twist from the pelvis.
Barefoot and pregnant? Get that yoga mat out for this helpful and easy-to-do prenatal yoga.
There are no real rules when it comes to savasana. Corpse pose is an homage to the meditative state the original practitioners of yoga committed to for hours after asanas. The purpose is self-reflection and meditation—but that doesn’t always look the same way. Some yogis find today’s most common pose aspect (laying down with legs and arms slightly spread) uncomfortable for their lower back, so they choose to bend their knees. Some prefer to sit in a seated position.
Welcome to our #WellnessWednesday yoga primer. Yoga is a wonderful way to become attuned to your body and increase circulation and flexibility. Each week I'll offer you a pose with benefits and instruction.
You’ve seen the classes before. They’re often listed as “Rock ‘n’ Roll Yoga” or another less zen-sounding name. Personally, I teach classes called “Namaslay” and “That Asana Though,” one with a rock playlist and the other featuring rap and hip hop. Of course, listening to pop music while working on your flow is far from traditional. It’s certainly not what the original practitioners of yoga envisioned when they came up with the asanas! However, almost nobody practices yoga in modern times like it was originally practiced. That’s okay!