Side-Lying Rest
Side-lying rest offers all the benefits of Savasana with extra comfort and is ideal during pregnancy.
- Level
- Complete beginner
- Family
- Restorative
- Hold
- 5–15 minutes
- Works
- Whole body
- Fully supported
- Breathe easily
Step by step
How to do Side-Lying Rest
Begin Lie on your left side.
- 01
Lie on your left side with knees bent.
- 02
Support the head with a pillow so the neck is level.
- 03
Place a bolster or pillow between the knees.
- 04
Hug a pillow to support the top arm if you like.
- 05
Close the eyes and release effort.
- ↩
Coming out. Press up slowly with your hands to sit.
Breath
Natural, relaxed breathing.
Focus
Supported relaxation
Why practise it
Restful and comfortable; recommended in pregnancy.
Alignment & cues
Neck in line with spine; knees supported.
Teacher’s cues
- “Fully supported”
- “Breathe easily”
Common mistakes
Head unsupported so the neck strains.
Make it yours
Every body is different. Use props and variations freely — they are not a lesser version of the pose.
Easier
Add more pillows as needed.
Variations
- Corpse Pose
Props
- Pillow under head
- Bolster between knees
Where it fits in a flow
Warm up with the poses on the left, then move into the ones on the right.
This pose
Follow with
Practise with care
Safety
Left side is often recommended in later pregnancy.
Educational guidance, not medical advice. Stop if you feel sharp pain, pinching or dizziness, and check with a qualified teacher or health professional if you are pregnant, injured or managing a health condition.
In the tradition
A modern adaptation of Savasana.
Questions
Which side should I lie on?
Either, though the left side is often recommended in later pregnancy.