Master Your Shavasana and Turn Off Mental Noise

How Ashwagandha can help you truly switch off and sink deeper into stillness.

When Shavasana Feels Like a To-Do List

You’ve just finished a beautiful yoga flow.
Your body feels open, your breath is steady, and you ease yourself into Shavasana — the final rest.
The room is quiet. The teacher’s voice soft.

And then it happens.

Your brain starts listing tomorrow’s tasks.
You remember an awkward text conversation from last week.
A song from 2012 gets stuck in your head for no reason at all.

Instead of peace, there’s noise. Mental noise.

The Real Goal of Shavasana

Shavasana, or “corpse pose,” isn’t just lying still at the end of class.
It’s the moment your body integrates the benefits of your practice — where tension melts away and the nervous system shifts into deep rest.

Done right, it:

Calms the mind and reduces stress
Lowers heart rate and blood pressure
Improves mood and mental clarity
Trains the brain to release its constant grip on “doing”

But here’s the thing: stillness is a skill. And in our always-on culture, it’s one many of us haven’t practiced enough.

Why Mental Noise Takes Over

When you can’t settle in Shavasana, it’s not because you’re “bad at yoga.”
Your body and mind might simply be too stimulated to let go.

The usual suspects:

High cortisol — the stress hormone that keeps you alert and ready for action, even when you don’t need to be
Overactive nervous system — lingering in fight-or-flight mode from a busy day
Habitual overstimulation — endless notifications, multitasking, and screen time keep your mind primed for distraction

As one yoga teacher once told me: “In Shavasana, your body is still — but your mind is learning how to be.”

Enter Ashwagandha – The Calm Within

Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that’s been used in Ayurveda for over 3,000 years to help the body adapt to stress.

Modern research backs its ancient reputation:

A 2019 study in Medicine (Baltimore) found that adults taking Ashwagandha extract for 8 weeks had significantly lower anxiety and cortisol levels compared to placebo.
A 2012 trial in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine reported that Ashwagandha supplementation reduced stress by up to 44% in chronically stressed adults.

What makes it special?
Ashwagandha helps your body switch more easily from “alert” mode to “rest-and-digest” mode. It doesn’t sedate you — it simply makes the stillness more accessible.

How Ashwagandha Helps You Switch Off

Lowers cortisol so your mind stops racing
Supports parasympathetic activation — the nervous system state needed for deep rest
Balances mood to prevent emotional “spillover” into your practice
Non-drowsy calm — no heavy crash, just a steady sense of ease

Integrating Ashwagandha Into Your Practice

If you want your mind to match your body’s stillness, consistency is key.

Ways to take it:

As part of a our PĀOUP Cacao blend, we combine Ashwagandha with other adaptogens and superfoods
In capsule form
As a tincture or tea before evening yoga or meditation

Best timing:

30–60 minutes before practice for immediate calm
Daily for long-term nervous system support

Pro tip: Pair with slow, diaphragmatic breathing before class to help your body settle even faster.

From Restless to Rested

Shavasana isn’t just the end of your practice — it’s where the real integration happens.
And when mental noise stops stealing that moment from you, your yoga (and your life) changes.

Ashwagandha won’t “do” the stillness for you, but it can make it easier to get there.
It’s the gentle nudge your nervous system sometimes needs to let go.

So next time you stretch out on your mat, take a deep breath, feel the weight of the day melt into the floor… and stay there, fully present.

Ready to master your Shavasana?
Fuel your calm with PAOUP — Ashwagandha plus functional mushrooms and adaptogens for clarity, balance, and all-day energy.