‘Help, my students are leaving before Savasana’
It happens sometimes: students leaving right before Savasana.
I remember the first time I saw this happen in a class with a wonderful teacher. I wasn’t sharing yoga yet but was in teacher training.
A woman basically ran out of class right when the teacher announced it was time for Savasana.
I was a bit shocked at the time: ‘Why would someone do that and disturb the rest of the group?’ I thought.
The teachers’ response was excellent:
‘Just make sure you practice Savasana for at least 5 minutes later at home. See you next time.’
What a great response: honouring the choice of the student while also gently stating the importance of practicing Savasana.
This stayed with me as I started sharing yoga myself.
It doesn’t happen that often, but occasionally I’ve had a student leave right before Savasana.
Usually they would announce it before class started, which allowed me to explain the importance of the asana.
I typically respond with:
‘If there’s really no way you can stay until class ends, then of course feel free to leave. Just make sure you leave as quietly as possible to not disturb other students while they’re resting, and please do practice the final pose later at home. It’s very important for our nervous system to end with Savasana / Corpse Pose. It’s like we stirred up all the snow flakes of a snow globe during the rest of the practice and Savasana helps the snowflakes settle in a more balanced way so we feel calm and at ease.’
There are many reasons for students to want to leave before Savasana. Sometimes I think it’s because it feels like a waste of time to them.
For others, Savasana can be challenging or even triggering.
Being left in silence for maybe a lot longer than they’re used to, while being really vulnerable with their whole front body opening towards the sky, can confront them with their own thoughts, sensations and emotions. Sometimes it can bring up old trauma.
So I think we should try to be compassionate with students who feel they need to leave before Savasana.
Here are some tips to help students feel more at ease in Savasana:
tell them what will happen: they will rest on their back (or side) for a couple of minutes. you will be there to hold space for them during the pose and guide them out of it when it’s time
give the option to lay down on their side (side laying Savasana)
give enough props for students to feel comfortable
know that not everyone is ready to close their eyes, mention it once (’eyes are usually closed during this pose’) but then leave them be
give the option to place hands on the belly as this can feel more grounding
check before class starts if anyone is not ok with hands-on adjustments (so you will not touch them during Savasana either)
having very soft and gentle instrumental music for beginners’ classes can help
mention that (sometimes strong) feelings, thoughts and sensations might arise during the pose, that this is natural and normal and that this pose is the practice of not doing anything with them
remind students that it’s a practice like every other pose: something we come back to over time and not something we have to be ‘good at’ immediately. give them time
a shorter (but not less than 5 minutes) Savasana for a beginners class can help, then build up slowly (officially Savasana lasts 15-20 minutes ; )
Do you ever have students who leave class right before Savasana? How did that make you feel?
