Savasana (śavāsana): Corpse Pose, and Why It Is Not Optional
शवासनśavāsana
Written and reviewed by The Kriya Yogi · Updated 27 September 2026
Savasana is lying still on the back at the end of practice — the 'corpse' posture, named for its complete stillness.
In short
- Śava means corpse; āsana means seat or posture.
- The Hatha Yoga Pradipika (1.32) describes it as removing tiredness and giving rest to the mind.
- The Gheranda Samhita gives the same posture the name mṛtāsana.
- Five to ten minutes at the end of a class is usual; some traditions give it much longer.
- Lying flat on the back is often unsuitable in later pregnancy; a supported side-lying position is the standard alternative.
Derivation
Śava is a corpse; āsana is a seat or posture. The name describes the stillness, not anything morbid. The Gheranda Samhita calls the same posture mṛtāsana, from mṛta, dead.
What the texts actually say
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika treats it plainly at 1.32: lying flat on the back like a corpse removes the fatigue caused by the other postures and brings rest to the mind. It is one of the few postures in that text described in terms of recovery rather than of energetic effect.
How it is done
Lie on the back, legs a little apart with the feet falling outward, arms slightly away from the body, palms up. Let the breath return to its own rhythm without managing it. Five to ten minutes at the end of practice is usual.
Why it is not optional
It is where the effects of the session settle and the body is given time to change gear. Leaving before savasana — common in busy classes — skips the part of the practice most people are shortest of.
Making it comfortable
A folded blanket under the head; a bolster under the knees for low backs; a blanket over the body, because the temperature drops once you stop moving. In later pregnancy, lying flat on the back is often uncomfortable or inadvisable, and lying on the left side with support is the standard alternative. If lying down triggers anxiety, keeping the eyes open and the knees bent is a reasonable adjustment.
Savasana and yoga nidra
They are not the same. Yoga nidra is a guided practice done in the same position, with a structured sequence of attention; savasana is simply the posture of rest.
Where this is practised here
Questions people ask
+ How long should savasana be?
+ Is it normal to fall asleep in savasana?
+ Is savasana the same as yoga nidra?
References
- Hatha Yoga Pradipika 1.32.
- Gheranda Samhita, chapter 2.
- B.K.S. Iyengar, "Light on Yoga" (1966).
Educational content, not medical advice. Check with a doctor before starting new practices if you have a health condition or are pregnant.