form in savasana

Hi bunni

The short answer is: Savasana during class is a contained revisited position that is a formal pose. Final savasana you are given choice to do what you want because the position is less important than your needs or desires to be in any other relaxing position.

The question why it’s necessary to have the arms and legs close is a good one.

The answers you were given are rather amusing! They appear to be quite common if not misguided responses.

Re the energy to pump closer to the body: Honestly, that one is funny. Your body is amazing. You have that wonderful circulatory system that takes care of providing every part of it with nourishment in just about any position. If the position of your body REALLY made a difference to your circulation then we’d all have blood pooling in our feet because they are the furthest things from your heart! With that logic you can see that many of these circulation stories are simply myths. You may heard, as I have, some teachers say that getting your head lower than your heart improves circulation to your head. Science will prove that that is not the case. Generally speaking, there will be a difference to your circulation if there are tourniquets involved. That tourniquet can be a partial block from anything: Bending limbs can cause a flow change just as suspending a plastic bag from your fingers or arm.

Here in Savasana you lie with arms outstretched, no bends, completely relaxed. That will mean less impedance to circulation. Less work to do. Easy to relax.

But why closer in?

I believe and teach thusly, 😉 that you are trying, each time you get into Savasana (any of them whether standing or lying) to recreate the same position. This has a calming effect on both the body and the mind.

The position becomes what we technically call a neurological ‘anchor’. You learn to get into and out of that anchor position as quickly, efficiently, and yet as calmly as possible. Your body AND mind learn that stillness, calm, deep breathing, relaxation and hopefully mindful awareness are actually TRIGGERED each and every time you go into Savasana.

Then because of that strong neurological anchor, you find those states more quickly and more deeply just by getting into that physiological position. Savasana just as with any other pose, takes practise. Practise makes you better at it.

So, honestly, if you were to lie there with legs akimbo and arms out in a T and that was what you did close enough to precisely every single time then you may find the same benefit. The more natural position of arms in close is better. It’s certainly more reproducible.

Heels touching is not essential. So don’t force it. I have heard that ‘rule’ enforced in classes. Just get those legs relaxed and feet closish to midline. Eg, a large shaped person with large legs may not be able to get feet together. Do they force it? Some would say yes. It is better that they find relaxation and stillness.

Savasana is Corpse pose and that’s reflected in the position of the body (with limbs close) too.

As for shoulders under:

There is a great physiological reason for that. I always teach that shoulders should be shimmied underneath you.

1> Shoulders underneath, and as I have always said: “shoulders in your back pockets” is essential for EVERY pose that you do. It’s a functional position that minimises risk of damage. But it does so much more.
2> Shoulders under externally rotates the upper arms. and creates good posture that one imitates in standing positions too. When you externally rotate the upper arms and you’re on the floor, the forearms externally rotate too (and lands your palms upwards). This creates that lovely open position on the floor, with feet flopping out to the sides – your corpse pose.
3> When you lie with shoulders under, the ribcage expands and it takes far LESS effort than it takes to breathe with shoulders in internal or forward position (which happens for most people when they simply lie down with no conscious awareness). The diaphragm has more space and the belly is more relaxed. The lungs have more space into which they can expand. This position makes it easier to breathe more deeply. The elevation of the heart is another misguided belief (see above).

So as you can see, you can facilitate better breathing and better body movement, but elevating the heart in and of itself is not going to do anything for you. What you have to do is lie in (or stand in, or move in, or do yoga in) the best position in order to breathe better, to expand the lungs better (which by default creates space for the heart) which facilitates better circulation! But you always need better breathing. Boo-boom!

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂