Savasana: Understanding Emotional Release, Nervous System Shifts, and Healing

Why Do We Cry in Savasana?

Crying in Savasana (Corpse Pose) is a common and often profound physiological and psychological response, indicative of a deep shift in the autonomic nervous system that allows for the release of accumulated physical and emotional tension.

Understanding Savasana: More Than Just Resting

Savasana, or Corpse Pose, is the final resting posture in most yoga practices, yet its significance extends far beyond mere physical rest. It serves as a crucial period for integration, allowing the body and mind to assimilate the benefits of the preceding practice. During Savasana, the objective is to achieve complete physical stillness and mental quietude, transitioning from active engagement to deep relaxation. This intentional surrender facilitates a profound shift in the nervous system, which is key to understanding the emotional release many experience.

The Autonomic Nervous System Shift

Our autonomic nervous system (ANS) governs involuntary bodily functions and comprises two main branches: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).

• The SNS is responsible for our "fight or flight" response, mobilizing energy, increasing heart rate, and heightening alertness—often engaged during the more active phases of a yoga practice or daily stressors.
• The PNS is our "rest and digest" system, promoting relaxation, conserving energy, lowering heart rate, and facilitating digestion and recovery.

Throughout a yoga class, the body is often engaged in physical exertion, which can subtly activate the SNS. Savasana provides a dedicated space for a deliberate and profound shift from SNS dominance to PNS dominance. As the body completely relaxes, muscle tension dissipates, breath deepens, and the heart rate slows. This profound relaxation signals safety to the brain, allowing the body to release its defensive postures and accumulated stress.

Releasing Stored Emotional Tension

The human body has an innate capacity to hold onto stress, trauma, and unresolved emotions, often manifesting as physical tension in muscles, fascia, and connective tissues. This phenomenon, known as somatization, means that emotional burdens can literally be stored within our physical form.

During the deep relaxation of Savasana:

• Muscles release chronic holding patterns: The conscious effort to relax every part of the body allows deeply held physical tension to unwind.
• Emotional energy surfaces: As the physical barriers (muscle tension, rigid posture) are lowered, the emotional energy that was bound within these tissues can begin to surface. This can be a conscious awareness of specific emotions or a more diffuse feeling of sadness, grief, or relief.
• A safe space for vulnerability: Savasana creates a contained, non-judgmental environment where these emotions can be felt and released without the need for intellectual processing or suppression.

The Vagus Nerve Connection

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve, extending from the brainstem down to the abdomen, innervating the heart, lungs, and digestive organs. It is a crucial component of the PNS and plays a significant role in regulating mood, heart rate, digestion, and immune response.

• Vagal tone: A healthy vagal tone indicates a robust PNS response, allowing for quicker recovery from stress.
• Stimulation through relaxation: Deep, slow breathing and profound relaxation, as practiced in Savasana, actively stimulate the vagus nerve. This stimulation promotes a sense of calm, reduces inflammation, and enhances emotional regulation.
• Emotional release: Increased vagal activity can facilitate the release of stored emotional energy, as the body enters a state where it feels safe enough to process and discharge tension that it previously held onto.

Neurochemical Changes and Emotional Release

Beyond the nervous system, Savasana also influences our neurochemistry:

• Decreased stress hormones: As the body relaxes, levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline begin to drop.
• Increased feel-good neurochemicals: Simultaneously, the body may increase the production of calming neurotransmitters such as GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and endorphins, which are natural pain relievers and mood elevators. Oxytocin, often called the "love hormone," which promotes bonding and a sense of safety, may also increase.
• Brainwave shifts: As the mind quietens, brainwave patterns shift from the active, alert beta waves to the more relaxed alpha and even meditative theta waves. In these deeper states, the subconscious mind becomes more accessible, allowing suppressed emotions to surface.

Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Vulnerability

Yoga practice cultivates mindfulness—the ability to observe thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment. In Savasana, this practice deepens:

• Lowered defenses: With the body at rest and the mind quiet, our usual defenses and intellectual barriers are lowered.
• Heightened awareness: We become more acutely aware of our internal landscape, including any underlying anxieties, sadness, or unresolved issues.
• Space for self-compassion: The practice encourages self-compassion, allowing us to meet whatever arises with kindness rather than resistance. This vulnerability in a safe space can be incredibly cathartic, leading to tears of release, grief, or even profound gratitude.

Is Crying in Savasana Normal?

Absolutely. Crying in Savasana is a testament to the profound effectiveness of the practice. It is a healthy, natural, and often necessary process of emotional catharsis. It signals that the body and mind are entering a state of deep relaxation and trust, allowing for the release of burdens that may have been carried for a long time. It is not a sign of weakness or distress, but rather a powerful indication of healing and self-regulation. Not everyone experiences this, and that's also normal; the release may manifest in other ways, such as yawning, twitching, or simply a deep sense of peace.

Embracing the Release

If you find yourself shedding tears in Savasana, allow them to flow. Resist the urge to suppress or intellectualize them. Simply observe the sensation, acknowledge the emotion, and trust that your body is doing precisely what it needs to do to restore balance. This emotional release is a vital part of holistic well-being, contributing to a lighter, more integrated sense of self both on and off the yoga mat.