I used to think that savasana was a waste of time.

Savasana requires the practitioner to lay on the floor in stillness and relaxation for several minutes after having completed a yoga practice of poses of varying effort. Why would I lie there in silence when I could use those extra minutes for something productive? It wasn’t until I started to slow down and meditate that I began to respect this last pose of many yoga sequences.

As we continue in this world of teletherapy, many clients are having sessions at home or in the middle of the day during a work break. When sessions were in -office, clients could use the walk back to their car or the drive to their next destination as a time to contemplate topics and themes we explored in session and let them sink in.

Now, with more convenience and less separation between therapy and the real world, I find that many clients are jumping to the next task as soon as we finish the session. I get it, the kids need to be tended to. Work has to resume, phone calls returned Life. But, key elements of therapy aren’t just the connections and revelations we uncover in an hour, but the ability to let them resonate within the core of the person to help them make wiser choices to lead authentic and meaningful lives.

Taking an extra few minutes from the time we end a session to the time you integrate back to reality is your savasana. Especially as parents when we are on autopilot and future tripping about the next task most of the time. Or if you’re the multi-tasking guru and to-do list megafan, savasana is for you. Taking just a few minutes after a session to absorb whatever you got from the conversation can help you pick up on the subtle cues we were just talking about that need tweaking!
It also creates boundaries around your self-care. If those around you know that you cannot be bothered during this time (obviously taking into consideration your children’s ages and developmental level), and you commit to this- you are sending a message that your time and your needs are important and to be respected. You are validating yourself instead of waiting for others to give you the go-ahead to take time for you.

Please, take the five or ten minutes after the session to let it all sink in. And for the parents of children in therapy, allow them the extra minutes after sessions. I know that it may seem like it’s all play and giggles- which sometimes it is, but, we are talking about the stuff they usually don’t get a chance to express, let alone to another adult. With some kids still having super busy schedules, try your best not to rush them out of the session into their next activity. It helps if you schedule the time for therapy plus the extra minutes in your calendars to know that the time is part of the session.