Restorative · beginner

Corpse Pose

Savasana

The final rest of every class. Physically the simplest pose in yoga and, for a lot of people, the hardest.

Corpse Pose Photograph coming soon

A rigged MakeHuman figure animated into Corpse Pose from this guide's own alignment cues — not a photo or scan of a real instructor. Same avatar as Mountain Pose and Downward Dog. The clip lies down the way a person does — standing, sitting, then settling back — and every frame on the floor is placed by measuring where the body's own surface actually rests, rather than by dropping the figure to a guessed height. Built with MPFB2 from the MakeHuman community CC0 system assets.

How to do it

  1. Lie flat on your back, legs a comfortable distance apart, feet falling open.
  2. Arms alongside the body, palms up, shoulders relaxed.
  3. Let the whole body be heavy.
  4. Stay five to ten minutes, breathing naturally.

Why it helps

  • Lets the practice settle into the body
  • Trains the nervous system to downshift on purpose
  • Practises stillness, which is a skill like any other

Common mistakes

  • Skipping it because it feels unproductive.
  • Fidgeting rather than settling — give it a few minutes before deciding it isn't working.

Before you try it

  • Lie on your side in later pregnancy. Use a cushion under the knees if lying flat bothers your back.

This is general information, not medical advice. If you're working with an injury, a health condition, or you're pregnant, check with a doctor or physical therapist and tell your teacher before class.

Make it easier

  • Bolster under the knees.
  • Blanket over the body for warmth.
  • Side-lying with a cushion between the knees.

Where this pose shows up

Styles restorative yin

← All poses