Drifting off in savasana

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

So, what do you do?

As a student, when you drift off periodically during a 15 minute savasana at the end of class and GOD FORBID snore?

As a teacher, when a student drifts off and snores?

And, how do you deal with this being pointed out to you by fellow students?

As it’s never intentional to fall asleep and snore - what’s the solution?

Do I stop going to yoga classes? Do I pack up my toys and leave when everyone else is getting ready for savasana?

Seems like such a small issue in the larger scheme of life, doesn’t it? I’m unsure of the solution though.

Any suggestions?

#2

Sometimes students do fall asleep during savasana…I just leave them…if they do not wake up when I bring everyone out of savasana I just gently wake him/her as the others are leaving. Usually they will wake up as the other students start to move and sit up…I also adjust to volume of my voice to help with waking them up…
If you feel yourself starting to fall asleep bring your attention to your breathing…you could try counting the length of in and out breath to stop yourself falling asleep.
It will get better with practice. Also make sure you are sleeping well so you are not so tired.

#3

It is ok to fall asleep but try not to the snoring can disturb others . Remember your yamas if someone in the class is judging you they are not practicing yoga .here is a trick try to make your savasana feel like tadasana ,cheers and blessings

#4

One can still judge others and still be practicing yoga, as practice takes time no one can be expected to be perfect and not judge others, but it comes with time. Imhho.

#5

Hello Kris,

As a student this of course has happened to me over the lifetime of my practice. In nearly every instance (for me) it is a function of being sleep deprived in daily living. So there is remedy if I’m willign to have at it. That having been said, when I drift off, so be it. It is not worthy of concern but is worthy of attention.

When I am teaching and a student drifts off I may observe them more carefully or I may change my tone, inflection, or dialogue. But I do not disrupt them nor should they be disrupted.

Another method I may employ is to instruct the class as to how to deal with the external during Savasana. Of course the neophyte allow every external element to be a distraction taking them away and out. Therefore the instructions are to allow the eternal to be a reference point and a helper to go deeper within.

When it is pointed out by a fellow student you may refer to sutra 1:33 as to how to best deal with it. Generally speaking a sincere “thank you” is enough and nothing more is needed.

I would not advise a student to stop their attendance nor would I advise a student to exit before Savasana is complete. It is necessary for every one in the room and should be relished and absorbed.

Do consciously try (set an intention) to not drift off BUT if you do be very kind with yourself.

gordon

#6

Thanks everyone for your kind and thoughtful comments. Gordon - thanks for reminding me to be kind to myself. :slight_smile: I truly needed to hear that.

Ultimately - I know it’s MY issue. Sometimes I think we are so close to an issue - or so tied into it with baggage that we just can’t see a clear solution. I also love the idea of just saying “thank you” - how simple but how perfect and beautiful.

I remember about 18 months ago when I was so rattled by latecomers to class - and now - I don’t even hear them when they come in 5-10 minutes after class has started. It was simply a mind-shift and practicing acceptance.

Yoga does change us - sometimes it’s just hard to see because it’s so gradual.

Thank you again.

#7

What would bother me at the beginning of class always tends to seem irrelevant by the end of class. If I hear people rolling their mat to leave early, I remind myself that they could have to take their mom to a doctors appointment, or pick up their kid from pre-school, or rush to a job to support their family. That person snoring may not have slept in days! Letting go of that judgement of others, and not being bothered by the little things is my favorite part of yoga.

#8

That is a very healthy perspective Dave.

As a teacher I distinguish between a student who is late TODAY and one who is late every time. When the behavior is chronic or ongoing it is a pattern. And, of course, Yoga is a breaking up of patterns so behavior is not rote.

I had a student that rolled up and left without taking Savasana - every class. This was years ago when I was a new(er) teacher. After a couple of times I simply took him aside and explained why the posture was imperative then let him choose. Should he opt to continue to leave then I requested that he set up in the back, near the door and exit as mindfully as possible.

The rest was and is up to him.

#9

Savasana is one of those postures that need nothing on the physical front. In fact, we have to consciously undo all the stretches and its ‘let go’ all over. But that makes it one of the most important asanas.

Asanas teach us physical awareness that at its very best, dissolves making us aware of the subtler world. The important aspect of such a lift in awareness is that we learn to do it consciously, at will. This makes savasana 180 degrees opposite of sleep.

When we lie down and start piecemeal relaxation in savasana the fork in the road appears as we relax most of our body. Until we learn to control the process the habit-prone mind takes a wrong exit leading to sleep, snoring etc. So, in savasana one needs to watch this fork very carefully and try to push it as much as one could.

One way to do that (and there could be many more) is to familiarize oneself with the process and flex the “will” muscle. Each time you are generating a bio-feedback, you should consciously tighten a body part and ‘will’ it to relax; watch the relaxation curve.

For everything else, InnerAthlete has nicely summed up, ‘not worthy of concern’.

#10

Back to class today and I will take all your ideas with me. Will set my intention to NOT fall asleep and watch for the ‘fork in the road’.

Another suggestion I have been given is that instead of relaxing my arms down in typical savasana position (away from the body, palms up) to bend at the elbows and put my hands vertical. I would think this would interfere with total relaxation but the theory must be that if you fall asleep your hands would fall down and that would wake you up. I don’t think I would do this in my home practice (I try to do 30 minutes savasana daily) but it might be something to try in the class setting.

#11

having a little snooze is great, just what your body maybe needs. So I always tell my students not to worry so much about it. With training the mind and body more this problem will dissapear. Some times the mind and body just needs that deep rest.
If somebody snores however , I just throw a bucket of water over them :wink: No , but seriously , I usualy walk around with a singing bowl and when I pass that person I gently shake him/her to wake up and not to disturb others.

Good luck!

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