The "Doing Nothing" Part of Yoga is Actually the Best Bit!
If you’ve ever been to a yoga class, you know that lovely moment at the end where the teacher tells everyone to lie down, close their eyes, and just... stop.
That’s Savasana (pronounced sha-vass-ah-nah).
At Steel City Yoga, we know that for beginners, this can feel a bit strange. You might be thinking, "I came here to exercise, why am I lying on the floor?" But in the Viniyoga tradition—which is all about making yoga work for you—Savasana is actually the most important thing we do.
Here’s the lowdown on why lying still is a total game-changer.
What is it exactly?
In plain English, Savasana is "Corpse Pose." Don't let the name spook you! It just means we are letting our bodies become as still as possible.
The Viniyoga way is all about comfort. If lying flat on your back feels weird for your lower back, we just bend your knees or pop a cushion under them. There’s no "right" way to look—there’s only a "right" way to feel, and that feeling should be totally supported and relaxed.
Why do we do it?
Imagine you’ve just spent 45 minutes moving, stretching, and breathing. Your body has been busy! Savasana is like hitting the "Save" button on a computer document.
It settles the fizz: Yoga moves a lot of energy around. Lying still lets that energy settle so you don't leave class feeling frazzled.
It reboots your brain: It’s a chance to switch off the "To-Do List" in your head and give your nervous system a much-needed break.
It’s a "Digest" mode: It helps your body soak up all the goodness from the stretches you just did.
"But my mind won't shut up!"
This is the #1 thing beginners say. If you lie down and immediately start thinking about what to buy at the supermarket, that’s okay! In Viniyoga, we don’t fight those thoughts. We just notice them and then gently bring our attention back to something simple, like the feeling of the floor underneath us or the air moving in and out of our nose. It’s not about having a blank mind; it’s just about taking a tiny holiday from your worries.
The Big Benefit
The best part? You’ll leave the studio feeling "yoga stoned"—that wonderful, floaty, calm feeling that lasts long after you’ve put your shoes back on and headed back out into the Steel City streets.
The take-home message: You don’t have to be good at Savasana. You just have to show up and lie down. Your body knows exactly what to do from there.
Want to give it a try? We’d love to see you at one of our beginner sessions! Check out our latest timetable at www.steelcityyoga.co.uk.