REST, RESET AND RESTORE WITH THIS YOGA POSE OF THE WEEK
Child’s Pose –
Balasana (Sanskrit)
(buhl-aah-suh-nuh)
bala: child
asana: pose
“Child’s pose is calming, centering and encourages relaxation”
Balasana is a great pose for beginning, during and ending your yoga practice. It’s also encouraged to take at any time you may want a break or pause during class.
Benefits:
- Gently stretches chest, hips, thighs, knees and ankles
- Relaxes neck, shoulders and spine
- Stretches and releases lower back
- Stimulates digestion
- Restores energy
- Slows down parasympathetic nervous system by relaxing your body and allowing you to focus on your breath
Step by Step:
- From tabletop pose, on your hands and knees, separate your knees as wide as comfortable.
- Bring your big toes to touch behind you.
- Reach your hips back towards your heels.
- Extended your arms forward as you lower your forehead down towards your mat.
- Relax your hands, shoulders, face.
- Soften your muscles as you breathe.
Modifications:
- If hips and/or knees are tight, use a rolled up blanket directly behind your knees or use a yoga block under your sit bones.
- If forehead can’t lower all the way down to the mat, use a yoga block under forehead or make fists with your hands and stack one on top of the other lowering head down on hand for added height.
- If upper body needs support, use a bolster to rest your head and chest on for more of a restorative pose.
For more of a traditional child’s pose (usually taken after body is warmed up), you can sit with shins down on mat, knees and feet together, chest on thighs, forehead lowered to mat and arms towards your sides.
This asana is cued many times during class and is often called the ‘resting pose’. Child’s pose is used to connect back to your breath and to the present moment. This cocoon type shape allows you to hear the sound of your breath more deeply, bringing you to a more peaceful, relaxing state.
Take a few moments out of your day and enjoy the benefits of Balasana.
🙏Namaste🙏
