Goodbye Stress, Hello Relaxation!

If you walked into my home on any given weekday afternoon, there is a good chance that you would find me in the middle of my family room floor sitting on my knees with my forehead on the earth...

No, I am not having a meltdown, although there are times that I have been close...

And most likely, you would see my little one climbing all over me, just laughing and having a blast! She loves to climb all over me when I get down on the floor because we must be playing a game!

Whenever I need to hit the pause button and reset my mind and my body, I call a timeout and drop right into Balasana, otherwise known as Child's Pose.  I realized why this pose was called Child's Pose when my daughter started rolling over to sleep on her stomach at about 4 months old. THIS was how she slept! CHILD'S POSE! In a Vinyasa Yoga class, it is not uncommon to see people drop down into Child's Pose when the teacher is teaching something completely different. That is one thing I have always loved about Vinyasa Yoga; you never need the teacher's permission to take rest and take care of YOU. I always tell my students that the only difference between the real world and a Vinyasa class is that you can take a timeout, hit pause and reset. How many times can we hit the pause/reset button in the real world?! I only wish!

But, this is exactly what I do when I am at home, or anywhere that people won't think I am nuts! If things are just driving me crazy and I need to collect myself, Child's Pose it is!

So, what are some of the physical/mental benefits of Child's Pose, you ask? Good question!

Physical Benefits

• Alleviate head, neck, and chest pain
• Opens the pelvic floor, hips, and low back
• Stretches the ankles, knees, and hips
• Opens the upper back

Mental Benefits

• Calms the mind
• Reduces stress
• Lessens fatigue

If you said, "WOW, I SOOOO need to do some Child's Pose," and you probably did, because, let's face it, who wouldn't, you are probably asking, "So, how do I do this Child's Pose?" Another great question!

Here is how I teach getting into Child's Pose:

Come to sit on your knees with your feet behind you. Bring your knees out wide and your big toes to touch. Sink your hips back onto your heels, let your chest rest between your legs, reach your arms out long in front of you, let your forehead melt into the earth, and close your eyes.

(Note: you could also keep your knees together more for a narrow kneed Child's Pose. This modification would be less of a hip opener and more of a low back release.)

Now, this is a restorative/resting pose. This should feel really good! But, I see so many people struggle even in this pose. If you are having trouble sitting your hips back onto your heels, try placing a block under your hips. If you are having trouble resting your chest between your legs so that your forehead can touch the earth take a block, pillow, large rolled up towel, or whatever works, and place it under your chest so that you can lay on that. This extra support will feel really good! Remember, if you think that a pose isn't accessible to you for one reason or another, I promise, there is a modification that will work in your body!

Now, hit the pause button and reset!!