We are all human beings and we have a body. However, we are not the body, we are not the mind, we are not the intellect, we are not the emotions. These are all ours, but we are not all of this. Our true nature lies beyond all bodies. Our true essence is not subject to change and suffering, not subject to time and space. But we have a body, and this allows us to travel the world, it allows us to experience life.
Our bodies need rest, our minds need rest. We go to sleep every night to recharge our batteries and reboot our internal computer. However, sometimes 15 minutes is enough for us to fully recover, and sometimes a whole night is not enough. Why is this?
We never really get tired. The body gets tired, the mind gets tired, but we never get tired. When we identify with the body, identify with the mind, then we get tired, and then sleep comes and takes us to where we don't feel the body. And when we get very, very tired, when the soul is tired of being the body, then another sleep comes – a much deeper one. In this sleep, the connection with the body is finally turned off – not like in a dream.
Shavasana is a Sanskrit word that means "corpse pose." An effective shavasana is when the practitioner, while in this most powerful yoga pose, resembles a dead person. But this similarity should not only be external, but also internal. In shavasana, it is necessary to separate oneself not only from the physical body, but also from other subtle structures of our nature. And if shavasana is successful enough, and we manage to separate ourselves from the mind, we will achieve samadhi.
We are not the body, we are not the emotions, we are not the intellect, we are not the mind! This is total relaxation, but not death. In shavasana, one must not fall asleep or die. If we manage to enter a deep shavasana for even 5 minutes, we will be restored so deeply that it will even feel like we have been born again. But why can't we recover so deeply during sleep?
There are four states of consciousness: jagrat (activity), swapna (dream sleep), sushupti (deep sleep without dreams), and turiya (the state that goes beyond dreamless sleep).
Jagrat is the state of activity in which our sensory organs are directed towards external objects. The state of swapna is when we sleep, and our perception is directed not outwards but inwards – we don't feel the body, but are connected with our other bodies. In sushupti does there occur a disconnection from our physical and subtle bodies. Therefore, staying in sushupti for even 5 minutes gives deep rest and restoration. If we go further into turiya, we will be able to separate ourselves completely from that which is not our true self. In turiya, our shavasana will be total. Turiya is victory over death, because we are not the body, we are not the mind, and we have nothing that can die. Shavasana can not only give deep restoration, but can also be the door to samadhi.
Performance Technique:
In fact, Shavasana does not have a technique, because Shavasana is when there is no body, no mind, and no technique. True Shavasana begins where any technique ends. But still:
1. Physical relaxation
Lie on a flat surface. Your arms and legs should be naturally spread out to the sides, palms up. Your body is completely relaxed. At this stage, it is necessary to make the body as inactive, calm and quiet as possible. There are different ways to achieve this, but all of them should lead to the same result – turning off the body. Some people imagine that the activity of the body is like a switched on light bulb, and by switching it off they switch off the activity of the body. Some people imagine that the tension comes out of the arms, legs, chest and head on the exhale. You can come up with any way to relax your body, the main thing is that it is yours and then there will be results. Find your own special method to relax your body. You can even imagine that your body is really dead. To relax, it is important to have an intention, and the body will react to your sankalpa.
2. Mental relaxation
Once the first stage is complete and the body becomes calm and still, you can move on. To do this, you need to become an observer. You need to observe how your breathing happens: don't accelerate, don't slow down, just observe breathing. You need to let the body breathe the way it wants – don't interfere with the process. Breathing is closely connected with our emotions and mind. So, by observing our breath, we can disconnect ourselves from the body and from emotions: there is breath, there is body, there are emotions, there are thoughts, and there is us who observes it all. If there are different visions or images – ignore them, don't follow them, don't chase them away and don't attract them. If you don't pay attention, then they, not having received a portion of energy in the form of repulsion or attraction, will go away.
At this stage, you can achieve very deep relaxation and gain invaluable experience and practical results. However, to make shavasana perfect and complete, you need to go even further.
3. Spiritual relaxation
Everything we are connected to is like a part of ourselves: family, work, relationships, country, gender, passion, preferences, hobbies, enemies, creativity (this list can go on and on). In order for shavasana to be perfect, we need to separate ourselves from everything we think and know about ourselves. We also need to separate ourselves from our surroundings. During shavasana, we should be no one and nothing. This is the only way to free ourselves from the mind. There is the true us, and there is the idea of ourselves. The screen of consciousness should be free of any notions of who we are. The last obstacle, the last veil of maya that we need to remove, is the feeling of our personality. This feeling separates us from the world, it creates such concepts as "I" and "you". When we, after all, manage to go through this – we will be able to penetrate the fourth state, which is called turiya. This is beyond the mind, beyond duality. It cannot be described. It is pure and unclouded consciousness – Sat Chit Ananda..
Such spiritual relaxation is achieved by the power of intention, the power of sankalpa. You will never return empty-handed from turiya. All fears, problems, conflicts and various situations in your life will have a solution. After all, the mind creates all this, and we are already above the mind. You will understand your life, your existence. You will finally understand what happiness is and how to act correctly. You will understand activity and non-activity. You will act from the center of your soul.
Benefit: Shavasana removes blocks and tension, it can heal. It provides deep restoration. With regular practice of shavasana, a person becomes more natural, hidden abilities and talents can open up, memory and mental abilities improve. Even some chronic diseases can disappear.