by Yogi Ananda Viraj (Eugene P. Kelly, Jr.)
Savasana (or mrtasana) is known as the corpse pose. The words sava and mrta mean corpse. In this posture one imitates a corpse. This is one of the most difficult postures (if not the most difficult) to master. Through this postures relaxation becomes a reality.
The two major works on Hatha-yoga give instruction in the savasana:
Lying on the back on the ground at full length, like a corpse, is called savasana. This (posture) removes fatigue caused by other postures and promotes calmness of mind (citta). Hath-yoga-pradipika I.32
Lying prostrate on the ground, face upward like the dead person, this is known as savasana. It relieves fatigue and brings about mental calm (citta-visranti). Gheranda-Samhita II.II
The practice of yoga aims at the surrender of unnecessary thought. Savasana is the situating of the body in such a way as to facilitate that surrender.
Instructions:
- Lie full length on the back, legs shoulder width apart.
- Place the hands a little away from thighs, palms up.
- Close eyes, breathe normally.
- Relax facial muscles, mouth closed but not tightly.
To relax is to return to an original condition. We act or move from the bodyview of laxity. Laxity means wideness or openness (laxitas). To relax is to return. When the tension required to act is not reabsorbed into laxity, the body stores unnecessary restriction. Savasana is the deliberate surrender of purposeless tension. To allow the body-feeling to “return” is to grant freedom to the future. It is the body-feeling which must be liberated for life to he fully lived. To open the body through relaxation is to find that we are not confined to feel by the limits of our skin. Laxity of body-feeling is openness to a multitude of embodiments. Feel free to incarnate the many.