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YOGA
Balasana
Balasana (child pose) is a resting pose. For many of us, this asana
possesses a deep physical and psychological memory of our time as
infants.
The shape of the pose is useful for many reasons, but in particular,
it forces you to confront your attitudes and patterns of breathing.
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Rukshan showcasing Step 1 |
Beginners can use this asana to get the feel of a deep forward bend
before perfecting advanced poses.
The underlying theme is to start with something simple and Balasana
is one of the most simple yoga poses to start off with.
Step 1: Kneel on the mat so that your big toes are touching together
and sit on your heels. Separate your knees as wide as your hips. Then
exhale and lay your torso down between your thighs. Nestle down onto
your inner thighs with your hands placed above your head.
Step 2: Lift the base of your skull away from the back of your neck.
The fronts of your shoulders should be towards the floor. The palms of
your hands should rest on the ground. Lift your buttocks just slightly
away from your heels.
Reach the arms longer while you draw the shoulder blades down the
back. Then without moving the hands, sit the buttocks down on the heels
again. Stay in this pose from 30 seconds to a minute.
You can even have your hands by your sides, palms up instead of
stretching them in front of you. Choose which suits you best in the
moment.
Normally when you perform an asana which demands lying face forward,
it is appropriate to practice a few asanas lying on your back too. Next
week we will present Supta Vajrasana, an asana lying on your back, for
you to go with the Balasana.
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Step 2. Pictures by Ranjith Asanka |
[Benefits of the asana]
*Gently stretches the hips, thighs, and ankles.
*Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and fatigue.
*Relieves back and neck pain when done with head and torso supported. |
