Corpse Pose
By Sage Rountree
Arguably the most important of the yoga asanas, corpse pose is often considered the hardest. When we rest in stillness at the end of a yoga practice, we are confronted with our inability to let go completely. Our muscles hold tension. Our minds race. Or we fall asleep, which, while useful, isn’t the point of the pose.
I am writing about corpse pose in our cancer issue not to be morbid, but to invite you to practice letting go. If you can learn to let go in a pose like corpse, you can reserve energy to apply where it is more useful: to fight illness, to support your loved ones, and yes, to train and race well.
The setup of the pose is simple: relax on your back, arms and legs spread comfortably wide. You can add a pillow under your head or your knees for comfort. The exact position you take is much less important than the practice of letting go completely. Release all muscular tension, release conscious control of your breath, release the need to engage with thoughts as they arise. Stay for ten to fifteen minutes, and when you do move on, do it slowly.
For more restorative poses that teach you how to release for deep healing, join Ann Burrus at the Carrboro Yoga Company (mycyco.com) on July 16. She will lead a restorative yoga practice by donation to the UNC Lineberger Cancer Center.
# # #
Sage Rountree, PhD, is Runner’s World’s expert on yoga for athletes and is the author of numerous books and articles on yoga and triathlon training. A USAT-certified coach, she is co-owner of the Carrboro Yoga Company (mycyco.com), which will hold a yoga teacher training beginning September 2011. Find her class, clinic, and workshop schedule, as well as many yoga and training resources, at sagerountree.com.
