CHILD’S POSE

The first pose that we do in our lives, in our mother’s womb is Balasana – Child’s Pose. This is the most natural for our body and the most relaxing.

Balasana is a calming pose that relaxes and rejuvenates the body - whether in-between strenuous asanas or at the start of a class. 

Many people believe assuming this pose allows one to reconnect to primal memories of being in the womb.

This posture has a deep psychological memory, the memory of our childhood. The form of this pose is useful in many ways, but especially because it forces us to engage with the attitudes of our mind and patterns of our breath, the health of our abdominal organs, but also with our consciousness.

This asana will help:

• Get rid of tension and pain in the lower back and neck.

• Gently stretch the muscles of the back and back of the neck.

• It can relieve soreness after sitting for a long time and prevent future pain.

• Improve flexibility.

• The pose stretches the latissimus dorsi muscles, increases the mobility of the shoulder and hip joints.

• Relieve stress.

How to get into to balasana pose:

1. Come to your hands and knees on the yoga mat.

2. Spread your knees as wide as your mat, keeping the feet flat, big toes touching together, sit on your heels.

3. Bend forward while stretching your arms towards the front of your mat, bring your belly to rest between your thighs and root your forehead to the floor.

4. Relax the shoulders, jaw, and eyes. If it is not comfortable to place the forehead on the floor, rest it on a block or on a pillow.

5. You can keep stretching your arms in front of you towards the top of your mat with the palms towards the floor or bring your arms back alongside your thighs with the palms facing upwards.

6. Bring your attention to the breath.

7. Stay in the pose for at least 30 seconds.

TIPS:

• There is an energy point at the center of the forehead in between the eyebrow center that stimulates the vagus nerve and supports rest and digest response. Finding a comfortable place for the forehead is key to gaining a soothing benefit.

• If unable to start from coming to your hands and knees you may start from seating on the heels. Sit with your knees and feet together. As you exhale, bend forward and rest your forehead on the mat in front of your knees.

• If you cannot get onto your feet with your buttocks and find this uncomfortable, you can also place a bolster or pillow between your buttocks and feet.