Savasana (Corpse pose)

In a busy world, savasana is one of the most important poses of yoga. This pose provides deep relaxation in a short amount of time. 10 minutes of savasana as a break during the day can be revitalizing, and some say is even the same as a whole night's sleep. The key is to lie in the pose completely loose, relaxed, and still. Allow your body to relax! Feel the muscles, the bones, and the entire body sinking into the floor. Try playing relaxing music for the duration of this pose. Even 1 minute in this pose can help - For those who have trouble slowing down, see how hard it might be to stay completely still for a whole minute, doing absolutely nothing... Once you feel comfortable, try relaxing in savasana 10-30 minutes at the end of an asana practice or at a point during the day just to refresh. Savasana is best done on the floor or on a yoga mat because the hard surface helps the body soften. But practicing in bed at night if one can't sleep is fine too. It can be good therapy for sleep disorders by inducing sleep. Combine it with a meditation and experience deep relaxation and peace. Savasana has numerous benefits, including reducing blood pressure, muscle tension, anxiety, insomnia, and increasing energy levels and focus.

How to: Lie down on your back, with feet a little more than hip width apart, toes falling outward, and hands out to the sides palms facing up. Allow the entire body to relax. Feel your attention turn inward as you take long, slow breaths.

If you like, relax the body little by little on each exhalation. Start at the feet, relax the feet. Then go to the legs, relax the legs, and so on all the way up to the top of the head. Enjoy!

To come out, slowly roll over onto your right side and relax there a moment. Then, slowly, push your self up to sitting by using hands and arms to push yourself up. Keep the stomach relaxed, and keep the head hanging down so the head is the last thing that comes up.

Balasana (Child pose)

This is the favorite yoga pose of many... and one of the most relaxing and comforting. It puts the body in a fetal like position and is beneficial in stretching the lower back, hips, thighs, and ankles, and reducing fatigue. It makes a nice resting pose in the middle of an asana practice, or on its own as a refresher during the day. If putting the forehead on the floor is uncomfortable you can rest it on a pillow instead.

How to: Starting from Vajrasana, exhaling, slowly bend forward until your forehead is resting on the mat. At this point your arms will probably be by your sides with palms up. You can either leave them there or bring them out on the floor in front of you, stretching out straight with palms down. Let all your muscles relax and, keeping your eyes closed, stay in this position as long as you like. To come out, return to Vajrasana, inhaling.