This is another option or a pre-shavasana to nurture your back best!
Even Iyengar said: Science progresses, Art progresses so must Yoga. He changed postures as taught to him by his teacher Krishnamacharya and he suspected his teachers would also help yoga evolve. My work is a tool to do just that!
All yoga practitioners have heard of Shavasana which comes at the end of their yoga practice. Those who do yoga because it is good for them even though they don’t like to move much love it for obvious reasons. Those who love more active yoga welcome it at the end of their practice for equally obvious reasons.
However, is it good for everyone? And is it necessary? Is there another way to get what people get from Shavasana?
How do you feel about it?
If you have any issues with your lower back, you may have not welcomed this last pose as much as others because laying down flat on your back legs and all may tend to trigger your lower back into discomfort.
If you have a tendency to hyperextend your knees, they tend to drop to the ground when in Shavasana reinforcing your habit which is not so good for your whole body. You may notice that your hyperextended knees can create a feeling that you are locked in your pelvis as a result. This depends on your body shape and size as well.
If Shavasana works for you, by any means go for it. If you have back issues, you may try to bend a knee one at a time like in a tree pose while on your back instead, no need to bring your foot way up hi on your other leg though. It is easier to do than adding a boulder under your knees when you are by yourself or your teacher is not attending to your need.
If you want to play it safe, don’t worry about what others may think. Do what works for you. And I recommend you start by lying in a semi-supine pose and then move into Shavasana if you choose to do so. Notice that when up on your feet, you always have some flex in your leg joints, you are not flat like in Shavasana. SO although Shavasana still feels great for many, it is not nurturing your postural balance as semi-supine does.
If you choose the semi-supine option even as a transition, you may need to add a folded towel under your head (not under your neck) to make sure that your head neck and torso are aligned and your head is not dropping back and compressing the back of your neck. You may also want to bring your knees to your chest for a second or two then drop them one foot at a time down onto the ground. Lastly, find a balance place for your legs so they are neither falling in or out.
There is way more to this practice to get the most out of it than how to lay down but just doing so daily even at home will bring great benefits to your postural balance, and back, muscle and joint health. And it can be a great way to end your yoga practice with as it restores your best posture automatically.
If you want to know more about this semi-supine way of practicing that is also called “Active Rest” or “Constructive Rest” in Alexander Technique language, reach out to me and you can receive a free gift focusing on this amazing practice.
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