So our family recently went to the Shambhala mountain retreat, and I participated in my first restorative yoga session with a terrific instructor. Ninety minutes of stretching, moving my body in ways it is not used to, in an idyllic mountain setting, with great views out the window. What’s not to like?
We end of course with “savasana.” Sure, whatever. It turns out that complete relaxation pose is a HUGE temptation to fall asleep. When it works, and you completely relax, empty your mind (without falling asleep), it is apparently amazing (so I’m told).
Why Savasana is the hardest yoga pose.
Funny story: within a minute or two of starting on Savasana, I feel my finger being pinched by my teenaged daughter lying to my left. “Dad! You were SNORING! So embarrassing.”
This happened several times in a row in the last 10 minutes. “Dad! Snoring!” “I wasn’t!” (glare). Interestingly, I think the last time my finger was pinched, I actually heard someone snoring as I came back to awareness. It might have been me. Is that even possible to hear yourself snore?
Anyway, this is harder than it looks. Meaning Savasana, and not the teenager snarkiness.
So, coming on the journey with me? I’m going to stay with a 3 minute meditation, eyes closed, with just the simple goal of spending 3 minutes in a comfortable pose, and focusing on breath. Then to watch the inevitable stream of thoughts floating by, observing each one as a puffy cloud, letting it just drift by without diving into it, and returning to my breath.
CMIO’s take? Sure. I wasn’t snoring.
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