Rolling to the Right After Savasana

In Savasana, our final relaxation pose at the end of practice, we allow our bodies to deeply rest after the activity of class. The way we come out of this pose is important. Rather than ‘jump’ out of Savasana and into another pose, or to get on with our day, we slowly wake up the body, following the cues from the instructor, and stay in a calm place physically and mentally. We start by wiggling our fingers and toes and move onto circling wrists and ankles. Perhaps we rock our heads side to side. Maybe one last long body stretch as we inhale our arms overhead. Then we roll to the right side, curling up into a ball. After a few breaths, we gently bring our bodies back up to a comfortable seated position.

Why do we roll to the right side when coming out of Savasana?

Physically: Our heart is located on the left side of our chest. When we roll to the right side, our hearts are above our organs, which means there is less pressure on your heart. During our yoga practice, we are opening our hearts. Rolling to the right allows our hearts to continue to be opened. When we pause on the right side, we are allowing our blood pressure to normalize. Lying on our right-side places your left nostril on top, allowing us to continue breathing through the left nostril, which has a calming effect.

Psychologically: Our right side represents heat, activity, and strength. When we roll to the right, we are activating heat in the body. The right side of your body is related to the solar, masculine flows of energy of the major energy channels, which flows along the right side of your spine. Your right side correlates with action and awakening.

Around the world, we may extend our right hand to greet one another. Rolling to the right or towards the east is symbolic of beginning and extending our grace into the world ahead.

Left side in pregnancy: Women are told to sleep on their left sides which improves circulation, giving nutrient-packed blood an easier route from your heart to the placenta to nourish your baby. Lying on your left side also relieves the pressure of your uterus from lying on top of your liver, which is essential in the processing of nutrients and detoxification of non-nutrients. It can be noted that the slight pressure on your heart from lying on your left side is optimum for blood flow. Exiting Savasana, we follow the same guidelines. Instead of rolling to the right, a pregnant woman will roll to the left side.

The Lotus Flower

· Considered sacred in Buddhism and Hinduism

· Has been around about 14.5 million years and even survived the Ice Age

· Durable – surviving in extreme climates and resistant to pollution

· Grow naturally in wetlands and muddy waters from Russia to Australia and China to Iran

· National Flower of India and Vietnam

· Used in food, medicine, and art among other things

· Symbol of purity, enlightenment, and rebirth

· Represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth as the petals open with the sunlight and close at sunset each day