New Study Finds Savasana Is the Only Pose Most Yogis Actually Enjoy

A landmark study published in the Journal of Contemplative Movement Sciences has confirmed what yoga instructors have long suspected: the most popular yoga pose is savasana, the one where you lie on the floor and do nothing. The study surveyed 10,000 practitioners across all experience levels and asked them to rate each standard yoga pose on a satisfaction scale of 1 to 10. Savasana scored 9.7. The next highest-rated pose, child's pose, scored 7.2. The lowest-rated pose, chair pose, scored 1.4, with multiple respondents writing 'I would rather be anywhere else' in the comments field. 'The data is unambiguous,' said lead researcher Dr. Karen Ostrowski. 'People practice yoga for sixty to ninety minutes in order to earn five minutes of lying on the floor. The lying on the floor is the point. Everything else is the price of admission.' The study also found that 74% of respondents admitted to 'checking out mentally' during the active portion of class and 'fully engaging' only during savasana. Thirty-one percent admitted to falling asleep during savasana. Twelve percent said they have attended classes specifically because they know the studio's savasana is longer than average. 'I go to Mountain Pose Studio because their savasana is fifteen minutes,' said respondent Jennifer Liu. 'Cosmic Flow down the street only does seven minutes. Seven minutes is not enough time to achieve true nothingness.' Yoga instructors have reacted with weary acceptance. 'We know,' said instructor Maria Santos. 'We've always known. We watch your faces during chair pose. You are suffering. We watch your faces during savasana. You are at peace. The information has always been available.' Some studios have begun offering 'Extended Savasana' classes, which consist of ten minutes of gentle stretching followed by fifty minutes of lying on the floor. The classes have sold out across all major markets. 'We've finally given people what they want,' said studio owner Brian Morrison. 'A socially acceptable context for lying on the floor in public.'