Today’s Poses: Corpse and Downward Dog Yoga Poses

Corpse and Downward Dog Yoga Poses

Corpse Pose – Savasana

This pose gets its name from the recumbent posture of a dead body. It is a position of rest, and is usually practiced towards the end of a yoga session – a session that typically begins with activity and ends in rest; a space or pause when deep healing can take place.

Steps – Savasana

• Lie flat on your back, preferably without any props or cushions. Use a small pillow below your neck if required. Close your eyes.
• Keep your legs comfortable apart and let your feet and knees relax completely, toes facing to the sides.
• Place your arms alongside, yet a little spread apart from your body.
• Leave your palms open, facing upward.
• Taking your attention to different body parts one by one, slowly relax your entire body.
• Begin with bringing your awareness to the right foot, move on to the right knee (as you complete one leg, move your attention on to the other leg), and so on, and slowly move upwards to your head, relaxing each part of the body.
• Keep breathing slowly, gently, deeply, and allow your breath to relax you more and more. The incoming breath energizes the body while the outgoing breath brings relaxation. Drop all sense of hurry or urgency or any need to attend to anything else. Just be with the body and the breath.
• Surrender the whole body to the floor and let go. Make sure you don’t fall asleep!
• After some time, about 10-20minutes when you feel fully relaxed, keeping your eyes closed, slowly roll onto your right side. Lie in that position for a minute or so. Then, taking the support of your right hand, gently sit up into a seated pose such as Sukhasana (Easy Pose).
• Keep your eyes closed and take a few deep breaths in and out as you gradually become aware of your environment and the body. When you feel complete, slowly, and gently open your eyes.

Benefits of the Corpse Pose – Savasana

• This posture brings a deep, meditative state of rest, which may help in the repair of tissues and cells, and in releasing stress. It also gives time for the yoga workout to sink in at a deeper level.
• This posture leaves you in a state of rejuvenation. It is the perfect way to end a yoga session, particularly if it has been a fast-paced one.
• It helps reduce blood pressure, anxiety, and insomnia.
• This is an excellent way to ground the body and reduce the Vata dosha(imbalance of the air element) in the body.

Downward Dog Yoga Poses

Adho mukha svanasana posture replicates a dog bending forward, hence the name downward facing dog pose. This asana can be practiced by any beginner too and with all its benefits, one should include it as a part of daily yoga practice.

Steps

1. Come onto your fours. Form a table such that your back forms the tabletop and your hands and feet form the legs of the table.
2. As you breathe out lift the hips, straightening the knees and elbows, form an inverted V-shape with the body.
3. Hands are shoulder-width apart, feet are hip-width apart and parallel to each other. Toes point straight ahead.
4. Press your hands into the ground. Widen through the shoulder blades. Keep the neck lengthened by touching the ears to the inner arms.
5. Hold the downward dog pose and take long deep breaths. Look towards the navel.
6. Exhale. Bend the knees, return to table pose. Relax.

Benefits

• This pose leaves you energized and rejuvenates the body
• It lengthens the spine, strengthens the muscles of the chest increasing lung capacity.
• It brings strength throughout the body especially the arms, shoulders, legs, feet.
• Helps to tone muscles
• It increases circulation to the brain
• It calms the mind and helps relieve headaches, insomnia, and fatigue.

Corpse and Downward Dog Poses calm the mind and helps relieve headaches, insomnia, and fatigue. Learn and Practice with Youveda’s Guided Yoga Series.