I like to take time for Savasana when I teach. I’ve been in classes where Savasana feels ‘rushed’. It’s like people are just waiting until they’re allowed to get up and run off. But I think *especially* in our crazy rush-rush culture we need to have the space to just lie there and *be*.

I also find that while lying there is great, “thinky” people appreciate help staying focused. So visualizations can be a great tool. I read somewhere that visualization is powerful because as far as the brain is concerned what you’re seeing in your mind’s eye you’re really seeing - it’s as good as being there. So bring on the tropical beach! Whew I’m more relaxed already. Here are some guidelines to offering a juicy relaxing visualization:

Play some good music . If you’re playing something with nature or water sounds, take advantage and build on that for your visualization (the Solitudes CDs can be useful here).

- Invite everyone into Savasana pose. Legs are far enough apart that the feet can flop open, hands are palms up, shoulders resting away from the ears.
- Start with 3 deep breaths (Ugayai, 3-part if you like) to transition into relaxation. Encourage everyone to really relax deeper into the mat with each exhale.
- Then ask them to let their breath become relaxed without controlling it.
- Keep the music soft and keep your voice soft. Allow people to ignore you and just zone if they want to. Also, use lots of pauses so it never feels rushed and people can sink into the silences.
- Start by offering a setting. Let’s stay with the tropical beach example. “Imagine yourself on a perfect beach - one you’ve been to or one you’d like to visit”.
- Work all the senses - Ask them to notice how it looks (color of the water etc.), what they smell, the sounds (”notice the sound of the water, notice any birds sounds, see if there are tree sounds”), the air on their skin, notice the sensation of the warm sand that molds against their body as they sink deeper into it. And whatever else that comes to mind that will enrich the visualization.
- Allow a few minutes of silence at the end so that they can just enjoy and go deeper.
- Come out gradually. I usually bring people back to their breath, then bring tiny movements back to fingers/toes, then roll onto their right side for a moment with eyes closed and then come back to sitting. I think that keeping with a gradual, consistent ‘coming out’ process allows people to relax even more. They learn fast that I’m not going to ask them to jump up and run off.

Things to watch out for:
- Keep the visualization simple - don’t get wordy or complicated. One time I suggested in the visuatization that they come across an object. And then I said to pick up the object in their hand. Someone told me later that their object was a house so my instruction wasn’t very useful. Keep it simple and clear.
- Avoid anything too distracting - a setting like a beach is pretty universally relaxing but not everyone would find camping in the woods at night relaxing, for example.

This may feel like a wacky thing to try the first time, but I think people appreciate having the permission to enjoy a juicy Savasana. Don’t underestimate how open and open-minded we all are after a good yoga session.