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Exercise guide
Corpse Pose
The closing rest of a practice: lying flat on the back with the body completely passive, letting the effects of the session settle.
What this exercise works
- Muscles
- erector spinae
- Goals
- mobility
- Equipment
- No equipment
- Category
- Stretching
- Difficulty
- beginner
Demonstration
Step 1
How to perform the movement
- Lie on your back with the legs a comfortable distance apart and the feet falling open.
- Rest the arms slightly away from the body with the palms facing up.
- Let the whole body soften into the floor, including the jaw, the eyes and the hands.
- Stay for the prescribed time, breathing naturally without controlling the breath.
- Bend the knees and roll to one side before sitting up slowly.
Technique cues and common mistakes
- Place a bolster under the knees if the lower back does not settle.
- Cover yourself with a blanket; the body cools quickly once it stops moving.
- This pose is meant to require no effort at all — resist the urge to adjust constantly.