Centre for Yoga Studies

The Art of Personal Sādhana

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    śavāsana

    Devanāgarī: शवासन Translation: corpse pose Related concepts:śava, āsana

    Appears in


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    Commentaries around

    Śavāsana is the road between cities.”
    – TKV Desikachar England 1976

    “When moving from Standing Āsana to Lying
    Āsana, consider the role of Samasthiti to be one
    of recovery from the efforts of, and exploration
    of the effects from, the preceding standing Āsana.
    Whilst also considering the role of Śavāsana to be one
    of transition to lying and the exploration of lying Āsana.
    Rather than the other way around, in that, we are taking
    Śavāsana as a place of recovery from our preceding efforts.
    In other words, choose to stay in stillness within Samasthiti
    until you feel as if you do not need to lie down to recover.”
    – 108 Postural Practice Pointers

    – Bhāvana on the transition from Standing Āsana to Lying Āsana
    “In terms of the transition within
    a Vinyāsa Krama from standing
    Āsana to lying Āsana and beyond.
    Choose not to lie down for  Śavāsana
    until you feel you don’t need to lie down.”
    – 108 Postural Practice Pointers

    “Within the teachings of T Krishnamacharya,
    as transmitted to TKV Desikachar,
    the role of Śavāsana within an Āsana practice was as
    a transitional link pose between categories of Āsana.
    For example between Standing and Lying Āsana,
    or Lying and Inverted Āsana,
    or Inverted and Prone Backbends,
    or Prone Backbends and Seated Āsana,
    or Seated Āsana and Sitting Practices.
    The extent of its use and length of rest at each stage,
    when transiting from one category to another within our
    Āsana practice journey, was dependent on the facility
    of the practitioner and the intensity of the practice.
    Within this individualised variance is the guiding
    principle that the role of Śavāsana is to facilitate a
    smooth transition for the flow of the breath and also
    the pulse through and beyond the Āsana practice,
    as a marker for the practitioner’s state of mind.
    However according to Desikachar the Viniyoga of
    Śavāsana was seen in terms of recovery from the
    fatigue of the preceding aspect of the practice rather,
    than say recovery from the preceding aspects of one’s life.
    Regarding the approach for the recovery
    from the preceding aspects of one’s life,
    amongst other things such as Āhāra and Vihāra,
    the wider purpose, content, duration and frequency
    of the Āsana practice must be carefully reconsidered.”
    – 108 Postural Practice Pointers

    The role of Śavāsana within the Viniyoga of…
    “Within the application of Cikitsā Krama
    Śavāsana is a position for relaxation.
    Within the application of Rakṣaṇa Krama
    Śavāsana is an Āsana for resting.
    Within the application of Śikṣaṇa Krama 
    Śavāsana is an Āsana for observation.”
    – 108 Postural Practice Pointers

    Bhāvana on Śavāsana within a Śikṣaṇa Āsana practice.
    “Inherent within the application of Śavāsana
    as an Āsana within a Śikṣaṇa Krama practice,
    is the active cultivation of a quality of Nirodha,
    or what can be described as ‘witness awareness’.
    As in the notion of the Cit observing the Citta.
    Thus, a key to directing the attention in
    Śavāsana, is to intentionally cultivate
    a quality of passive observation.”
    – 108 Postural Practice Pointers

    “Śavāsana is a recovery
    from the fatigue of practice,
    rather than a recovery
    from the fatigue of Saṃsāra.”
    – 108 Teaching Path Pointers

    “The Viniyoga of Yoga perspective
    is that the role of Śavāsana is
    its specific use as a transition
    from the fatigue of the Āsana,
    rather than its general use as a
    recovery from the fatigue of life.”
    – 108 Teaching Path Pointers

    Links to Related Posts:

    • Glossary of Āsana & Mudrā Practice Techniques
      – Grouped into Standing, Kneeling, Lying, Inverted, Backbend, Seated & Sitting
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Viniyoga
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Vinyāsa Krama
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Pratikriyāsana
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on the Breath
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Śikṣaṇa
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Rakṣaṇa
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Cikitsā
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Laṅghana
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Bṛṃhaṇa
    • Prāṇāyāma & Bandha Practice Techniques Glossary
      – Grouped into Primary, Secondary & Ancillary Techniques
    • Yoga Practice Planning and Theory Questions – Collected & Collated

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    Related

    This glossary with its similar, opposite and related concepts categories, supplemented by textual references and additional commentaries around the key word, is a both work in progress and constantly ever-expanding in terms of further cross-references, textual cross links and commentaries.
    As it continues to develop your comments and suggestions on your experience and how it may be enhanced are very welcome via this link, thank you.
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