Soulid

Śavāsana — Corpse Pose

(śava = corpse · āsana = posture)

Essence of the Pose

Śavāsana is the practice of conscious rest — a return to stillness where effort dissolves, the breath softens, and awareness becomes spacious and present. It is a welcome pause from doing, allowing you to simply be.

Purpose in the Classical Tradition

In classical Haṭha Yoga, Śavāsana was valued for its ability to restore the body, quiet the mind, and integrate the effects of practice. Its purpose is to cultivate deep relaxation, regulate the nervous system, and prepare the practitioner for meditation, prāṇāyāma, and expanded states of awareness.

How to Practice

Lie comfortably on your back, legs extended and slightly apart.
Rest your arms at your sides with the palms open and relaxed.
Gently close your eyes and release any tension in the face and jaw.
Spend a few moments simply observing the rise and fall of your belly as you breathe through your nostrils.
Let thoughts and worries drift away as you settle fully into the present moment.
Allow yourself to rest — free from effort, expectation, and external stimulation.

Effects

Activates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest-and-digest)
Releases muscular and fascial tension
Grounds the body and settles energetic overactivity
Slows heart rate and supports natural, unforced breathing
Calms and steadies the mind
Integrates prāṇa and balances subtle energy

Benefits

Deep physical, mental, and emotional relaxation
Reduced stress and accumulated tension
Improved sleep quality and restorative capacity
Greater clarity, focus, and calm
Integration and assimilation of all preceding āsanas and prāṇāyāma

When to practice

Śavāsana may be practiced:
At the beginning of a yoga session to arrive, ground, and centre the mind and breath
At the end of practice to integrate and restore
On its own during moments of fatigue, overwhelm, or overstimulation
As a preparation for meditation
Before sleep to support deep rest