Wednesday, March 9, 2011

My fave yoga pose (for now)


It's tough to answer the question, what is your favorite yoga pose? It's impossible to narrow it down to one, plus it's a moving target. What you love today may not serve you tomorrow. I find it kind of amusing that a basic paschimottanasana is my recent nemesis, given my low back sensitivity, but that tittibhasana now comes with ease. Huh.

If I had to really choose just one pose, it would probably be pigeon (which I've mused on before here). But a close second is a pose that isn't quite so pretty or fancy - in fact, it may be the plain Jane of yoga poses, and a bit cheeky too: it's often referred to as wind-relieving pose. But that is only one of its benefits (if you choose to look at it that way)...it's just about the best darn low back release evah. I am always, always doing this pose, every day, multiple times a day. All you have to do is get down on the floor and hug your knees into your chest, and voilá - knees-to-chest pose. Lovely. Sometimes I feel like I could stay here for hours.

There are many things you can do with apanasana: you can hug both knees in together, or one at a time; you can roll around and massage your low back, or rock forward and back to massage your spine; you can take a gentle supine twist to either side; you can transition into happy baby. Give it a try and soothe your spine and your mind. Namaste.

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