First time back at yoga since my father passed away last week and Savasana was so difficult. It used to be my favorite part of class. Today I just cried thru it. Anyone relate?

This is Ashtanga Yoga Tech Support. Real questions from the yoga community, answered.

Our Response

Yeah. That's going to happen for a while.

Savasana is stillness. And stillness is where grief lives. When you're moving through postures, you've got something to do — breathe here, reach there, balance. Your body is occupied. Then you lie down and there's nothing between you and whatever you're carrying. Of course you cried. That's not a problem with your practice. That is your practice.

The body holds things the mind tries to manage. You've probably been getting through days — making calls, handling logistics, answering the same questions over and over. Your body has been waiting for you to stop. Savasana was the first time you stopped.

I won't tell you it gets easier because that's not really the right word. It gets different. Some days Savasana will be fine. Some days it'll wreck you. Some days you'll cry in a forward fold and have no idea why. Let it happen. The mat is one of the few places where you don't have to explain yourself to anyone.

If you need to skip Savasana for a few weeks, skip it. No one will judge you. If you need to lie there and cry for ten minutes, do that. There is no wrong way to grieve on a yoga mat.

One thing I'll say — the fact that you went back after a week tells me something about you. A lot of people wouldn't. Your father would probably be glad you did.

When you're ready, whenever that is, we have a guide on the deeper purpose of what the postures and stillness are actually doing: https://ashtanga.tech/study-guide/asana-philosophy-purpose-definition-purpose-of-asana/

No rush. You've got time.

Related Study Guides

• Asana Philosophy Purpose Definition Purpose Of Asana