Get Grounded with This Savasana Alternative

Try this face-down version for safety and stability.

Joanne Varni

Articles\Yoga

restorative, restorative yoga, savasana, therapeutic tip of the month

As an Amazon Associate, Breathe Together Yoga earns from qualifying purchases.

Facedown savasana is an alternative to final rest or corpse pose. This posture, while having many of the benefits of traditional, face-up savasana, allows a different perspective. Finishing in a prone position changes the experience and the relationship with the breath, as it moves to the back body instead of the belly, creating space around the kidneys. This version of savasana can also create a sense of stability and safety for some who feel more vulnerable while face up. Finally, by having the face in a downward position, our awareness can move inward a little easier, as there are less distractions. Adding a sand bag to the low back, or covering with a blanket, can also create a deeper sense of groundedness.

Joanne Varni

Joanne's philosophy as a yoga teacher is to help people who seek personal empowerment feel connected to their bodies, quiet their mind, stimulate a healthy nervous system, and release tension in the body caused by stress, anxiety, or trauma. Her teaching technique uses a combination of breath work, meditation, gentle asanas, somatic yoga, and neurogenic tremoring. Additionally, Joanne specializes in helping those with trauma (including PTSD) and has attended and completed her Level II certification in TRE (Trauma/tension release exercises) with Dr. David Bercelli. She is also certified as TSY teacher (Trauma Sensitive Yoga) under the renowned guidance of trauma researcher and pioneer Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (The Trauma Center at JRI). Joanne teaches classes, workshops, teacher trainings, as well as running retreats locally and internationally. She also teaches Yoga for Trauma Recovery at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and San Jose, California and has voluntarily taught yoga to women incarcerated at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas and the Center for Survivors of Torture in San Jose. Joanne is an ERYT500 and earned her 200 hour and 500 hour YA certification through Jennifer Prugh’s YA certified “JOY of Yoga” teacher training. She completed her Therapeutic Yoga teacher training with Cheri Clampett and Arturo Peal and her Yin Yoga Teacher training under Paul and Suzy Grilley. A twenty-year resident of Los Gatos, she enjoys spending time with her husband John, and children, Anthony, Steven, and Nicole.

A Sleep Manifesto – Sleep First Then Rock Your Life

Let’s explore why we need more rest.

Shine Your Way to Firefly | Izumi Sato

We aim to improve the flexibility of hamstrings and shoulders, as well as the strength in the arms, thigh adductors, and the core. Variations are offered to develop the sense of balance on the arms. It is an exploration of your own expression in Firefly, whatever stage of life you’re in.

Introduction to the Buddhist Mudras | Izumi Sato

Mudras are highly stylized and symbolized as non-verbal communication. In this introduction to the Buddhist mudras, we will learn five Buddhist mudras and the mudras of the five wisdoms, or five Buddhas. After learning the forms and meanings of the mudras, it’s fun to observe the arts such as Buddha sculptures and paintings.

Chanting Gayatri Mantra With Mudras | Izumi Sato

In this mantra, the 24 Mudras are practiced while chanting the Gayatri Mantra which has 24 syllables. Gayatri Mantra is dedicated to Savitri, a Vedic sun deity. Among various translations of the mantra, I introduce the first line by Tias Little and the rest of the lines by Swami Vivekananda.

6 Ways To Develop Healthy Habits This Summer

Forming new habits or having a different mindset can be a challenge, so how long does it take to form a new, healthy habit?

I am Imperfect and Totally Lovable, Just Like You

As we all come out of isolation, I find myself teetering between wanting to hang back in the world of the remote, or to bring myself deeply into community.