Child's Pose
Words by:
Charman Driver
One of my mantras to myself and others is, “take a moment of rest”. None of us get enough of it on a daily basis, that’s for sure. Rest doesn’t have to take shape as a long, drawn out event such as a nap (though that works too).
Unlike my spouse, who takes daily hour-long naps, you’ll rarely find me napping unless I’m sick. I do try to steal a few minutes of rest each day and it makes all the difference in the world to my mental health—and attitude.
Try child’s pose as a gentle resting pose, useful any time a break is needed. Besides relieving stress and fatigue, as an added bonus, it stretches the neck, spine, hips, thighs, knees and ankles.
Child’s Pose:
1. Start with your hands and knees on the floor.
2. Touch your big toes together, open knees hip-width apart, and sit back onto your heels.
3. Place your forehead on the floor, lengthen your neck, and melt your chest toward the floor in between your legs.
4. You can lay your hands (palms down) on the floor alongside your ears, alongside your hips (palms up), or at the base of your neck (palms facing each other) in prayer position.
5. Relax all of your muscles into the pose and breathe deeply into the torso and back.
6. Stay in the pose from 1 to 5 minutes and rest. Longer if it feels good.
PS—If you feel discomfort sitting on your heels, place a folded blanket or towel between the back of your thighs and calves.