We've all been there: emotionally tense and physically fatigued but we came anyways. We joke before class that we want to hang out in savasana all practice because it's a piece of cake, right? I've come to learn that in contrary, it is a very challenging pose. In fact, B.K.S Iyengar refers to savasana as the most difficult of asanas.
It wasn't until after a year of steady practice [!] that I learned that sleeping in savasana wasn't really the best thing. What? But it feels so, so, so, so good. Turns out so many of us fall asleep because we don't know any other form of relaxation except for sleep. [Ouch!]
The truth is [dun, dun, dun], even after years of practicing and now teaching, I still have days when I drift away from my state of awareness. Like many people in today's society, I have a hectic schedule. I wake up at 4am almost every single day, lead a very active lifestyle, and sometimes after a rigorous practice at the end of the day, fatigue will snatch me.
On top of all that, this past week I have been battling desynchronosis. That's a fancy, scientific word for jet lag. My body's natural patterns have been throwing a tantrum and I've been dealing with headaches, disorientation, grogginess, irritability and fatigue. It's like the perfect savasana storm...
I've even tried to rationalize with fatigue. I've placed my body down and promised it sleep after savasana, after we do this little work, and drive home, and brush our teeth and... I don't even realize how quickly I've drifted off until I hear a quite voice guiding me to re-awaken the body.
Sometimes it's quite alarming, like falling asleep at the wheel, realizing my eyes were closed only when I've begun to re-open them. That has also happened to me this week. Terrifying, to say the least and I've been taking more naps to try to off-set this.
When these moments do occur in practice, I try my best to not be hard on myself. In fact, I let it be a reminder that I need to take better care. Why am I so fatigued? Do I need to get more sleep (usually, that's a yes), do I need to eat more nutritious food, is my mental chatter so loud that subconsciously I want to turn down the volume by just passing out? Do I feel overwhelmed or disconnected?
To truly find savasana, total relaxation, takes years and years of practice and it's much more subtle than sleep or even rest. It demands the student to be fully present and that's not an easy task. Therefore, be patient with yourself.
If you feel fidgety, sleepy, or anxious to get out of the pose, become aware of what is happening: the process, the thoughts, the sensations. Whatever you do, stay there, stay with it. Whether you can't relax at all or drift off to La-La land, don't get frustrated.
You are doing your work, you made it to the mat, and for that you need to be thankful and kind to yourself. Keep practicing your savasana and trust that your yoga will carry you. That's what I am doing this week!
One last thing, if you do have to leave class early or are practicing at home without guidance, always take a mini-savasana for yourself. Don't skip it!
With that I leave you with a fantastic savasana song! (I love this whole CD by Deuter called Atmospheres. Check check check it out).
