Simple Yoga for Anxiety Relief: Child's Pose
November 17, 2010 in stress and anxiety relief 
In this podcast, Shann talks our listeners through a simple yoga posture that's recommended for easing stress and anxiety: balasana or "child's pose".
"Find yourself an area where you can roll out your yoga mat. If you don't have a yoga mat that's fine, you can use a bath towel or a small carpet.
Begin by kneeling, and then slowly lowering your bottom onto your feet, sitting on your feet with your knees separated and your big toes touching.
With your eyes closed, fold your torso forward letting your forehead rest on the floor or on a support like a bolster or a blanket - so your head and neck can rest more fully.
At this point you can place your arms on the floor in front of you allowing the elbows to bend out to the sides, or you can bring your arms back behind you with your palms facing up and your arms resting by the sides of your legs."
Benefits of Child's Pose:
- Helpful for dizziness or fatigue
- Calming for stress and anxiety
- Stretches and relaxes the spine
- Calms the mind and body
- Encourages strong, steady breathing
- Releases tension in the back and shoulders
Ayurveda recommends using Child's Pose frequently to help the mind and body feel safe and calm. Sometimes people suffering from anxiety feel the need to curl up and hide away for a while, this pose fulfils that need perfectly. We recommend practicing for few minutes before bed while taking slow steady breaths.
photo by lululemon athletica
Resources:
Yoga for Stress & Anxiety Relief downloads
Inner Love: Yoga Nidra for Children