This is the time of year when many of us are craving more rest and silence than what we have time for. Us, yogis, are luckier in that regard than most because we have come to know, understand, appreciate, and love the deep rejuvenate stillness of Savasana.

To honor this need for space and silence - both for you, and also myself - I chose not to write a separate e-mail for Pain Care Yoga students. Savasana is as applicable to Pain Care - and maybe even more -  as it is to a more active movement yoga practice.

I also did my best to shorten today's Friday Follow Up e-mail to give you time and an opportunity to focus on the practice. We often fall into the trap of gathering information all the while skipping the actual practice piece. {I am totally guilty of that!}

Our days are filled with high-tech conveniences that allow us to get done more, faster.

Even during sleep we move about to find a more comfortable position.

The yoga antidote is the simple act of lying down and being still.

As the props relieve the muscles and bones of their roles of support and action, the nervous system sends and receives fewer messages and becomes quieter. 

(or, as many of you call it, end of the class "nap")

~ is considered to be the MOST important pose of any yoga practice

~ deactivates sympathetic nervous system (fight / flight mode) while activating

parasympathetic nervous system (rest / digest mode)

~ enhances true health, and supports immunity, digestion, circulatory health, and stress response, to name just a few.

This week we've used Legs Up The Wall pose as a way to settle the mind and enter the restorative space of deep relaxation and Savasana.

Experiment with the pose to make it your own:

~ Would you prefer to have your legs over the chair instead of up the wall?

~ Would head support add to your relaxation?

~ Try weight over the belly, or maybe an eye pillow to help the nervous system settle with more ease.