Shape of the Month: Corpse Pose (Savasana)
If you've been practicing in the studio with us, we've completed 12 months of shapes. We began 2024 with the foundational pose, Mountain (Tadasana), and continued to work through various postures aimed at stabilization, balance, hips, and even backbends—hello, Bow Pose! As a community, we have increased our strength, focus, and confidence on the mat while sharing plenty of giggles.
To be transparent, I was initially terrified to introduce the Shape of the Month (SOM) theme. I feared pushback and negative feedback, almost making me scrap the idea entirely. Talk about worrying for nothing! You all understood the assignment and embraced the journey, with many of you affirming me along the way. Thank you!
As a community, we expanded our practices in unique ways. Students added new shapes and variations to their yoga toolkit and leaned into mindfully incorporating what benefitted them best rather than being concerned about "looking the best." Guides tapped into their creativity to craft sequences that provided fresh perspectives on standard poses, often dusting off books to research in preparation for the theme.
On a personal note, SOM reenergized my practice and encouraged me to return to enjoying yoga purely for fun. It reminded me of my love for learning! Our wonderful community continues to teach me the values of support, togetherness, and joy.
It feels fitting to conclude our year the same way we wrap up our classes. December's SOM is Corpse Pose (Savasana)! Take this shape as holistic recovery for the body. Savasana allows time for both the brain and body to mentally and physically digest the insights and wisdom of our practice. It activates the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS), which helps the body relax after experiencing stress. Once active, the PSNS guides the body in calming down, releasing tension from deep tissue layers, and initiating restoration.
Traditionally, Savasana is done by lying flat on our backs, arms by our sides, palms facing up, and legs relaxed with feet splayed open to the sides. As with all poses, there are different variations available. Click here to explore some common ones.
Be Well,
Niecia
