
Yoga: Child’s Pose
“The moment of surrender is not when life is over. It’s when it begins.” Marianne Williamson
I love a restorative posture, especially so when the days are getting colder, nights getting darker and cosier and I want to extend that feeling of ‘hygge’ from my external surroundings to my inner-self.
My mantra for November is “I surrender” and Childs Pose (Balasana) is a nourishing, restful posture that allows us to surrender to gravity, surrender into our body, and meditatively surrender to something greater than ourselves.
Whether used between postures as a welcome rest pose, or as an indulgent practice on it’s own, Balasana offers an opportunity for us to slow down, still our minds and reconnect.
- From tabletop position (all fours), inhale, sitting back towards the heels
- Exhale, lengthening through the spine, walking the hands straight in front of you towards the front of the mat
- Rest the palms and the forehead onto the mat
- Nestle your belly between your thighs, extending the tailbone towards the back of the mat
- Turn your focus inwards and breathe slowly and deeply, feeling the belly rise and fall against the thighs
- Repeat the affirmation “I surrender” with every exhale and sink a little deeper into the mat
Variations:
- Place your arms down by your sides, palms facing upwards next to your feet.
- Take your knees as wide as the mat, toes together for a wide-legged childs pose
Child’s Pose is most effective when you are completely comfortable. Try the following modifications to soothe any discomfort:
- Place your head on a block or bolster
- Use a blanket under or behind the knees
- Place a cushion or blanket between your bum and heels
- Take a wide-legged child’s pose, place a bolster lengthways between the legs and lie over it
More Love Child’s Pose affirmation:
“I surrender”
Love the benefits of Child’s Pose
- Deeply restorative and calming
- Resting belly on thighs stimulates the digestive system
- Opens, elongates and strengthens the lower back
- Massaging the third eye (between eyebrows) on the mat instantly soothes and sends a message to the nervous system that you are safe
- Wide-legged child’s pose brings release to the hips
- Relaxes tension in neck, shoulders and hips