Shavasana
Shavasana, the yogic pose of relaxation, should be practised with breath awareness after completing Surya Namaskara. It rests and relieves any tensions which may be present in the body. Shavasana, known as the dead man's pose, involves consciously willing the entire body to relax to the point where it becomes as limp as a lifeless corpse. Through shavasana complete rest is obtained in a few minutes and afterwards one is able to rise fully refreshed with body and mind in a state of relaxed harmony.

The relaxation period following Surya Namaskara is an important part of the practice as it allows the body time for readjustment and removal of any toxins which have been released into the blood stream during the practice. In Surya Namaskara, some exertion is required to perform the sequence of postures. This is indicated by the increased heart rate and deep breathing, which correspond to arousal of the sympathetic nervous system. The relaxation in shavasana afterwards allows the prasympathetic nervous system to operate, reversing the effects of arousal, and returning the body to a balanced state. Through the combination of Surya Namaskara and Shavasana, both aspects of the autonomic nervous system are stimulated and conseuently the whole body is revitalized.

The period of relaxation should last at least until the practitioner can feel that his heartbeat and breath have returned to normal and all tension has been released from the muscles.