Savasana: Are Savasana, Meditation & Relaxation practices the same thing? Are they interchangeable?

These practices are all different and each has different intentions. We do our best to clarify this throughout the program. Unfortunately, many teachers are using these practices interchangeably in classes, which is where the confusion begins.

To be clear, here are the definitions of these different practices:

• Savasana: is for passive awareness and integration of the yoga practice and is usually offered at the end of the class.
• Meditation: is for internal awareness of, and attention to, bodily sensations and mental phenomena and can be offered at the beginning, middle, or end of a practice.
• Relaxation practice: is for the purpose of relaxation of the mind and body.

You are welcome to do a reclined relaxation practice or meditation practice at the beginning of the class. Savasana is what we offer our students at the end of a class.

Please keep in mind that Savasana and Meditation are two different elements of the class and the expectation for the practicum is that you teach them separately. This is made clear in the Practicum Criteria of the program. It is important to teach these elements separately to ensure your evaluating teacher can clearly see the different criteria within your practicum with ease.