December Pose of the Month
The end of the year is near. The end of another decade. The death of this year and this decade is the final chapter of this year and decade of your life. While we may be consumed right now in the holiday hustle and bustle, this time of year is a very beneficial time to slow down a little and reflect on what the death of this year means to you and how you choose to write the final chapter of 2019.
Our pose of the month this year is Savasana which means Corpse (sava) Pose (asana) in Sanskrit. Savasana is usually sequenced at the very end of a yoga practice, as it is essentially the death of our practice. It gives us the opportunity to really let go (physically and mentally) into the practice of stillness and total relaxation, and soak up all the beautiful feelings and sensations of our yoga practice. It may look like a simple pose to master, as it doesn’t require one to be flexible or “good” at balancing. However, it’s actually said to be the most difficult pose because it requires us to master not just corpse-like stillness physically, but also mentally. It is the pose of doing nothing. You just lay there. Breathe. Feel. Observe. Sense what is present in you and around you moment by moment.
Savasana teaches us how to be the witness, how to be present with ourselves and all that surrounds us, how to relax, and how to let go. Much like Death.
“Savasana symbolizes the death of the ego and the promise of awakening to an enlightened state of consciousness. In the yoga tradition death is not viewed with displeasure. It is the final rite of passage that prepares us for the promise of a new tomorrow. It gives us a sense of purpose that can inspire us to make good use of the time we have on earth.”
- Alanna Kaivalya & Arjuna Van Der Kooji (from the book Myths of The Asana)
As you reflect on the year behind you and look forward to the year ahead, think about how you can make better use of the time you have on earth. Take some time to think about what you have accomplished, how you have grown and/or changed, and even what you haven’t accomplished… yet. Reflect on both the positive and the negative moments and experiences from the past year, and let go. Let go with gratitude for all those moments and experiences, good and bad. They have all prepared you for your new tomorrow, your new year ahead. Like death, let go from clinging on to anything from the past and set yourself free.
As you plan for the new year ahead try the yogic practice of Sankalpa setting. A Sankalpa is a vow or commitment that we make to support our highest truth. It’s a deeply rooted intention from the heart. It speaks to the bigger picture of our lives, our overriding purpose for being here (our dharma). It helps us to connect to a sense of purpose in our lives that allows us to make better use of your time here on earth.
“Savasana symbolizes the death of the ego.” (Myths of the Asana) A Sankalpa is different from a resolution because it’s not ego-driven. A resolution typically assumes that we aren’t good enough as we are- i.e. We want to lose 20 pounds. We focus on chasing after something superficial that we think will make us happy and fill a deeper void in our life, only to sometimes fail at our resolution and feel even worse off in the end.
“A Sankalpa practice starts from the radical premise that you already are who you need to be to fulfill your life’s dharma. All you need to do is focus your mind, connect to your most heartfelt desires, and channel the divine energy within.”
- Kelly McGonigal
A Sankalpa practice is much like the practice of savasana. It teaches us how to be the witness, how to be present with ourselves and all that surrounds us, how to relax, and how to let go.
To set your New Years Sankalpa, start by thinking about a short statement that you feel like reflects your true nature. This statement is an all encompassing one that doesn’t involve action or a change. An example would be- “I am peace itself”, “I am already whole”, “Compass is my true nature”. It’s very similar to a mantra. When creating this short statement make sure it’s in the present tense. This statement is a “deeply held fact, and a vow that is true in the present moment.” - Richard Miller
Then you can set a more specific intention or goal from here. Setting specific intentions will help you create a road map for your year and some of the bigger milestones, or “stops,” along the path to enlightenment. Asking questions like, “What do I need to do to move forward on my path?” or “Where do I need to direct my energy toward my bigger life goals?”
A Sankalpa takes time and a lot of focus. Much like savasana, we must be still and relaxed to be able to fully begin the practice of listening to our heart-mind. We must also be willing to hear our true desires, letting go of the fear and/or anxiety that sometimes reside with them. Just like the fear and anxiety we may feel when we hear about death or talk about it, we have to find the courage to listen and to welcome the desires of our hearts. Then when we hear the call of action from those heartfelt desires, we must be ready and able to respond. That call is the purpose that will inspire us to make good use of the time we have here on earth.
Make a commitment to yourself to take some time in the coming weeks to make time for a Sankalpa practice to set yourself up for a PURPOSE-FULL year! Additionally, enjoy the MANY benefits of our pose of the month, Savasana, by coming to class to practice it with us and give your body the extra rest this holiday season!
To practice Savasana at home, follow the steps below:
Lie down on your back with legs stretched out to the end of the mat and arms about 45 degrees from the torso.
Turn palms up.
Make sure that the lumbar spine and pelvis are neutral and there is space between your low back and the floor.
Eyes can be open or closed. If eyes are open, keep gaze still.
Soften the breath into a natural rhythm.
Benefits of Savasana:
Calms the mind and improves mental health
Relaxes the body
Reduces headaches and insomnia
Releases stress, fatigue, depression and tension.
Improves concentration.
Helps to lower blood pressure, stimulates blood circulation.
Happy Holidays! Namaste <3