In Rhythms Yoga: Monday Morning Yoga Pose

 Do you need find ways throughout the day to relax and de-stress? Want to keep your youthful and playful existence on a daily basis?

Find restoration in Child’s Pose. Rest your forehead on the earth, pillow, block, towel, or mat while closing the eyes and gently opening the hips, thighs and ankles while lengthening the spine and ultimately, finding rest and relaxation.

I find myself craving Child’s Pose throughout the day. I wake-up to the pose each morning to open my spine and gently arise and release tightness and tension. I melt into Child’s Pose in my classroom on the carpet at school. I even access the posture when I travel in the airport, before or after a flight. Child’s Pose has wonderful effects to the body and mind, creating an environment to tune inward, allowing the day- to-day stresses to dissipate, and tension to melt away.

Kids performing Child’s Pose can place a stuffed animal on their back and pretend like they are an animal resting on a rock, a lizard lounging in the sun on a warm summer’s day.

Check with your doctor before performing any form of exercise including yoga. Always honor your body. If a posture gives you pain, gently come out.

To perform Child's Pose:
Come to your hands and knees on the floor. Option to keep knees together or spread them wide. A soft surface like the carpet, rug or yoga mat is best for finding relaxation. Walk your palms out in front of you. Sink your hips over your heels. Try bringing the tops of the feet on the ground for a nice ankle stretch. You can also stay propped on your toes if it feels better on your feet/ankles. Rest your forehead on the ground or use a pillow, block or towel to rest your forehead. Another variation for the arms, is to bring the arms to rest by your sides.
If Child’s Pose is not comfortable on the knees, you can try rolling up a yoga mat or use a towel under the knees for support. You can also lay on the back and bring the knees into the chest, receiving many of the same benefits.

Close your eyes and feel gravity pulling your hips downward and allowing a gentle opening in the hips. Feel your breath moving as it opens and expands the space on your back and feel the breathe leave the body while the back and belly become soft. Feel everything slow down in this posture and surrender into that feeling.

Your mind will calm. You can visualize the breath moving up and down the spine. Give the breath a color and watch the color of your breath as it nourishes and rejuvenates your entire body from head to toe. Stay up to a minute or as long as you’d like. Walk your arms/hands forward and come up to the knees.

If you have children, you can ask them to gently sit or lie on your back for a little spine lengthening and deepening in this posture. The sound of “awe” is in order!

We can learn a lot in life from children about staying youthful, playful, and happier on a daily basis. Keep Child’s Pose in your daily routine to keep that youthful feeling, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Namaste,
Christi Iacono
In Rhythms Yoga

Go to www.inrhythmsyoga.com to see class schedule.