Is Doing Nothing Hard Work?

Remember your Mom saying “Be Still !” — wasn’t that one of the hardest things to do, right after eating all your broccoli? Iyengar yoga sessions end with “being still” or “Savasana” which means corpse pose. You’re laying there, looking like a corpse on the outside but your toes itch, your stomach is growling, your thoughts are on to the next thing you need to do, etc.  You’re stuck in “activation” mode instead of giving your Savasana pose time to take you to a calmer, more settled place.

Savasana will allow your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) take over more often. This system is the opposite of the fight/flight activation we feel when we are stressed. It’s easy to be stuck in response/activation mode in our modern world. The PNS is responsible for calming/settling us down but it takes longer to respond. That’s why taking your mind out of that cycle by focusing on yoga poses is so good for you and why Savansana in particular is especially good for you even though it may feel like nothing is happening.

Humans need both modes of “activation” and “settling down.” When they are out of balance, the health of the body suffers. You may experience gastric issues, problems sleeping, even minor illnesses take longer to get over.  Regular yoga practice will bring you to a balanced place.  So doing “nothing” is really “something.”

Your Mom was right all along:  BE STILL.

For more on this:  Yoga And Your Nerves