The Yoga Pose That Taught Me Stillness Was Strength

I used to think yoga was all about movement—stretch deeper, flow faster, sweat harder. But then I discovered Makarasana, the Crocodile Pose, and everything changed. It wasn’t during some high-level workshop or fancy retreat. Honestly, I was just burned out. One evening, I rolled onto my mat looking for something—anything—that didn’t demand more of me. That’s when I tried this deceptively simple pose, and for the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe.

Makarasana isn’t flashy. You lie on your belly, arms folded under your head, legs relaxed, face down. That’s it. And yet, it’s powerful. In that stillness, I felt something shift—like my body and mind were finally allowed to just be. No goals, no effort. Just awareness.

I later learned more about it from a solid guide by Ask Ayurveda, which goes into the meaning, benefits, and step-by-step practice here:
https://ask-ayurveda.com/articles/1299-what-is-makarasana-meaning-steps-benefits-and-yoga-practice

Turns out, this pose is designed to trigger the parasympathetic nervous system—the one that helps you rest and recover. No wonder it felt like such a release.

What really convinced me, though, was how others in the wellness space are talking about it. On Instagram, a teacher I follow shared how this pose helps reduce emotional fatigue after intense flows:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DMuvWK_ty6B/

Then I saw a great post on Threads where someone explained how Makarasana supports deep, diaphragmatic breathing—which I hadn’t even realized I was doing until they pointed it out:
https://www.threads.com/@askayurveda_24/post/DMuvWzvUYLR

Pinterest was even more practical. One visual breakdown showed how just five minutes in this pose can ease lower back tension—seriously useful if you sit all day like I do:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/895934919626055253

And this wasn’t just a personal or home practice thing. I noticed on LinkedIn that even yoga therapists and professionals are incorporating Makarasana into somatic awareness work:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ask-ayurveda_did-you-know-makarasana-crocodile-pose-activity-7356285102575816704-NiEZ?

People on Facebook were also sharing how it helped them sleep better and wind down more effectively—turns out this simple pose fits really well into a nighttime routine:
https://www.facebook.com/885804900366149/posts/1069610565318914

But maybe the most surprising take came from X (formerly Twitter), where someone suggested we start seeing stillness as a kind of strength instead of weakness. That hit home for me. Especially in a world that glorifies hustle, poses like Makarasana remind us that slowing down isn’t falling behind:
https://x.com/1857364984759541760/status/1950519322738085982

It’s wild how something so physically passive can be so emotionally active. For me, Makarasana became a way to check in—body, breath, mind—without pushing myself past another limit. It’s now part of my regular practice, and on rough days, it’s my go-to.

Have you ever tried a pose that changed how you think about rest or effort? Do you think stillness can be just as productive as movement?