Restful and Therapeutic

Mar 4, 2011 | Health, Yoga practices, Yoga teaching  | 3 comments

Have you had a hard week and need to recharge your batteries? Or, maybe you’re recovering from poor health? Or, just feeling weekend lazy? Here’s a simple sequence for when you’re feeling sooky.
Supta Badda Konasana Bound-angle pose  Equipment: blanket and a bolster.

- Restful and Therapeutic

Supta Baddha Konasana


Lie back on a bolster or several blankets folded lengthwise to support your back and head.Bend your knees out sideways and bring the soles of your feet together, with your heels as close to the pelvis as possible. Let your back settle and your chest open. Relax your inner legs and your arms out to the side of your body.
As a beginner, stay in position for 1–5 minutes, breathing evenly, with your eyes closed. With more experience, you can stay in position for up to 10 minutes.
Supta Upavistha konasana Lying-down splits –  Equipment: blanket/bolster, wall.
- Restful and Therapeutic

Supta Upavistha Konasana


Lie on your back near to a wall. Bend your legs and wiggle your buttocks as close as you can to the wall. Straighten your legs on the wall and move them wide apart into the splits. Adjust your feet so they are equidistant from the floor. Let your legs relax outwards. Your arms can be loose by the side of you or folded overhead. Hold the pose for 3-5 min. breathing evenly.
Supta Padangusthasana Cycle Hip openers – Equipment: Belt and Blanket.
- Restful and Therapeutic

Supta Padangusthasana


Variation 1. Lie down on your back with your legs straight and your feet flush to the wall and together. Rest your head on a folded blanket. Bend your right leg in towards the outer right chest, and using both hands, hug your leg to your chest. Don’t let your left foot come away from the wall. Keep your left leg straight, with the back of your thigh and knee on the floor. Hold the pose for 10 to 15 long breaths, then, continue to the next variation.Variation 2: Slip your belt over the ball of your right foot and straighten your right leg towards the ceiling. Hold the belt with both hands. Keep your chest open, your shoulders down, and your throat relaxed. Stay in this position for about 10–15 breaths and work on extending both your legs, breathing evenly. Variation 3. Hold the belt with just your right and hand and extend your left arm onto the floor on the left side, palm upwards. Take your right leg out to the right side in line with the right hip, as much as possible, and about half way to the floor. Keep your left leg hip on the floor and turn your left thigh turned in.
Work on keeping both legs straight. To avoid rolling your trunk over to the right, keep your navel turning to the left. Your chest should also be turning. Hold this extension for about 10 to 15 breaths. Bring your right leg back up to the vertical, and then gently release it alongside your left leg.
Repeat all three variations on the left side. You can gradually increase the time you stay in the variations.
Ardha jathara parivartanasana Belly twister –  Equipment: 2 blankets or cushions.
- Restful and Therapeutic

Ardha Jatara


Lie down on your back and stretch your arms out sideways so they are in line with your shoulders, palms up. Bend your knees into your chest. Exhale and take your knees down to floor on the right side, pointing towards the right armpit. If your knees don’t quite touch the floor, let your bent legs rest on a folded blanket or cushion to the right side. Keep extending your left arm and revolving your abdomen to the left. Press your left shoulder down if it is lifting off the floor. Hold the pose for 15–20 breaths, then, bring your knees back to the centre again.
Repeat the pose, this time taking your knees down to the left side. Hold the
pose for 15–20 breaths, then, bring your knees back to the centre. Repeat the pose once more on each side.
Chair Savasana is similar to Viparita Karani (legs-up-the-wall) Equipment: chair, blanket
Lie down and lift your lower legs onto the seat of the chair. Move your buttocks in close to the chair and rest your arms by your side. Support the back of your head and neck with a folded blanket. Cover your eyes with an eye bag or soft cloth. Stay in the pose for 5–15 minutes. You will find your breathing becomes very gentle and quiet.
- Restful and Therapeutic

Chair Savasana

3 Comments

  1. Oh Eve thank you for the sooky sequence…just what I need this morning!
    Sue xo

    Reply
  2. Hi Eve,
    Thank you so much for sharing another practice to nurture ourselves with. I have been at Ballina for a few days with Deva Premal and Miten nurturing myself with mantra. So uplifting and heart opening. My mother thought it hilarious that I spent four days singing, I must admit I was surprised to find myself at a retreat chanting. However the moment that we started the first mantra with Deva, it just felt so right.
    I can recommend this to anyone that would like an alternative to asana or as a tool to enhance one’s practice in a different form. I’ll update when I try teaching it at Simply Yoga! Love Tania

    Reply
  3. Hi Tania,
    How wonderful to have the Deva Premal chanting experience. I can imagine all your body’s cells tingling with the sweet tonic that comes from singing. I hope you pass on the experience to the Simply Yoga students.
    XO Eve

    Reply

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