I have written and posted about shavasana (savasana) before. This asana can be used to start a class or be done anywhere in the sequence that you see fit to use it. It is used in many yoga classes as the final pose. I think of it as a Challenging Easy Pose. It is a challenge because many of us have busy lives and things to do all the time. Many of us have a lot to think about. Many of us are challenged with quieting the mind. Not necessarily having no thoughts because I am not sure that is even possible, but not having a lot of chatter in the mind. Having focused thoughts. The thoughts focusing on breath, body, and the practice just experienced. Some people are further challenged with just being still. So in addition to the busy, moving mind, there is the busy, moving body. For some just relaxing and not fidgeting is a challenge. I find that being comfortable really helps. When doing shavasana as the final pose, I instruct my students to put on their jackets, if they want. I encourage them bring blankets. I almost plead with them to bring sock, nice, comfy, fluffy socks — and use them during shavasana.
I think this one simple thing will change your shavasana. It doesn’t matter what the temperature is. The room could be hot and the last thing you would think to do is put on socks, but I invite you to try it. I reserve at least 7 minutes for shavasana. I shoot for 10 minutes but sometimes that doesn’t work. But we do at least 7 minutes. So there is plenty of time to sink into relaxation. It could be that in my classes, with all of that time the feet have a chance to cool off so socks are great. When the feet are chilled it might keep you from completely relaxing. You might not even realize they are chilled. So socks can help.
Also air moving around your more than 7000 nerve endings (in each foot) might distract you. With many yoga classes there are some standing poses, so you’ve activated the nerves in the feet. Perhaps sensitized the feet during the class. So nice socks could help keep the distraction to a minimum. COMFY socks might help bring some calm back to those nerves. So if possible use warm and comfortable socks. Not dress socks, because those do not help with warmth.
I am not sure the ancient yogis would endorse or even agree with such a recommendation, but I think of socks as a prop to help me achieve the purpose of the pose. If props are used and recommended for other poses why not shavasana. I do know that some people use bolsters when they are available, so why not use socks?
For me, once I started using socks, my shavasana changed. I hadn’t even really thought about my feet affecting the pose until one day I decided to put on socks. The few students of mine that have decided to use socks during their shavasana mentioned how it made a difference. We all marvel at how it did!
So . . . whether you love shavasana or not . . . whether you are challenged by it or not . . . I suggest trying it with socks on. See what you think. Then let me know.
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