Supta Baddhakonasana with Block | Hugger Mugger Yoga Merchandise

Supta Baddhakonasana (Reclining Sure Angle Pose) is most frequently practiced as a Restorative pose. Within the final restorative model, we use all the great things—Yoga Blocks, a Commonplace Yoga Bolster and a Yoga Blanket or two. However we are able to additionally apply Supta Baddhakonasana in a extra simplified means. A Yoga Mat and a pair Yoga Blocks simply is perhaps sufficient so that you can take pleasure in an easeful respite within the pose.

As a really flexible individual, I traditionally resisted utilizing assist below my thighs in Supta Baddhakonasana. Blocks below the thighs have been for stiffer people, I assumed. However not too long ago I’ve observed my sacroiliac (SI) joints feeling achy after practising it. As I considered what is perhaps the trigger, I noticed that it is perhaps the acute angle of my thighs.

My thighs fall simply to the ground within the pose. In consequence, I can really feel that my glutes truly compress my SI joint. If I keep greater than a minute—and I at all times need to keep greater than a minute—my SI joint suffers. Inserting a Yoga Block below every thigh nonetheless confers the pose’s many advantages, however with out the drawbacks. I’ve begun suggesting that each one my college students—particularly the flexible ones—assist their legs within the pose.

Supta Baddhakonasana Advantages

Supta Baddhakonasana is considered one of solely a small handful of yoga poses which might be acceptable to apply after consuming. By increasing the stomach, it facilitates the stream of power and meals matter into the decrease quadrants of the stomach, the place the small and enormous intestines reside. In my expertise, the spaciousness this pose creates helps stimulate motion to help the let-go course of.

Supta Baddhakonasana relieves the contracted or heavy sensation we regularly really feel after over-eating, and may relieve menstrual cramps. As a result of this pose may be very stress-free, it helps transfer us into the rest-and-digest (parasympathetic) aspect of our autonomic nervous system, which stimulates digestion and helps relieve stress.

The right way to Follow Reclining Sure Angle Pose with Yoga Blocks

1. Collect your props: Yoga Mat, two Yoga Blocks and a Yoga Blanket (elective). I like to put a folded blanket below my head and neck for a bit of additional assist and luxury.
2. Sit in Dandasana (Employees Pose) in your mat. Place the soles of your ft collectively and bend your knees out to the perimeters. Place a block below every thigh. Ensure that the blocks are far sufficient below your thighs that they’re supporting them.
3. Place your arms behind you and lean again. Then bend your elbows so that you simply’re resting in your forearms together with your fingers pointing towards your glutes.
4. Now push your fingers into your glutes to encourage your tailbone to level towards your heels.
5. Lie again onto the ground, putting a folded blanket below your head and neck in case you like.
6. Loosen up right here and breathe for two to 10 minutes.
7. To depart the pose, place your arms below your thighs. Use your arms to assist your legs as you progress them towards your chest. Then place your ft on the ground, hips-width aside, together with your knees upright, in Constructive Relaxation Place. Loosen up right here so long as you want.

About Charlotte Bell

Charlotte Bell found yoga in 1982 and started instructing in 1986. Charlotte is the writer of Conscious Yoga, Conscious Life: A Information for On a regular basis Follow and Yoga for Meditators, each revealed by Rodmell Press. Her third e book is titled Hip-Wholesome Asana: The Yoga Practitioner’s Information to Defending the Hips and Avoiding SI Joint Ache (Shambhala Publications). She writes a month-to-month column for CATALYST Journal and serves as editor for Yoga U On-line. Charlotte is a founding board member for GreenTREE Yoga, a non-profit that brings yoga to underserved populations. A lifelong musician, Charlotte performs oboe and English horn within the Salt Lake Symphony and people sextet Purple Rock Rondo, whose DVD gained two Emmy awards.