How to Yoga - Head to Knee PosesteemCreated with Sketch.

in #health8 years ago

Good day, Steemians!

Let the lover of your soul restore it. -- Psalm 23:5


I lose my way...and not infrequently.
Yoga teaches me to come back and try again.
It shows me another approach to frustration and confusion,
rather than my automatic "bull in a china shop" reaction.
Yoga is always available, always reliable, and it shows me
how easy it can be to return,
so I choose it again and again and again.
I don't practice yoga because I read about it in a book;
I practice because for me it's undeniable truth that
yoga makes everything better.
I hope that by sharing my experience, you are inspired
to triumph along your path.


This is Head to Knee Pose

AKA Janu Sirsasana in Sanskrit

(janu = knee, sirsa = head, asana = pose/posture)

Forward folds encourage introspection.


If you sit in front of a computer for hours a day,
likely your shoulders are rounded and your back is tight.
Forward folds are excellent for releasing that tension.

This is a calm, restorative pose that relieves stress,
lengthens the back of the legs, decompresses the spine,
and feels super delicious.

You can go as deeply as you like physically,
but one of the most beautiful aspects of forward folds
is how they turn in on themselves
and encourage looking within.
Forward folds encourage release.

You can take yoga as a strictly physical practice
if that's all you need, but if you're already there
you might as well see what comes up mentally/emotionally/spiritually.
There's no right or wrong way to do it,
and with a continued practice you find that each day is unique,
and even familiar poses can take you to new dimensions.


How to HEAD TO KNEE POSE:

  • From seated with legs extended (staff pose), draw the sole of the right foot to the inside of the left thigh.
  • Straight leg is fully engaged with foot flexed. 
  • Inhale and lift up through the crown of the head while rooting through the sit bones. Roll the shoulders back.
  • Exhale and fold forward. Reach for the foot, allowing the hands to be wherever feels appropriate for today whether that is the thigh, the shin, the ankle, or around the foot.
  • When you're ready, switch sides and repeat.

Breathe in, breathe out. 

Breathe in, breathe out. 

Breathe in, breathe out.





💛  Sara!
>:<>:< Giving thanks for another chance to succeed >:<>:<

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This is wonderful Sara!
I'm afraid I haven't stretched seriously in years...and anytime I'm close to the floor I'm tackled by two 70 pound puppies. LOL I don't suppose you have any core strength exercises? Being in my mid-40s and having popped out a few babies, I have to say that I'm really sick and tired of peeing myself every time I sneeze. Sorry if that was TMI. lol

Thank you, @merej99 - this could actually be a whole post in itself!

There are a lot of layers to core strength exercises. Yoga has plenty of asanas that can tone your physical muscles. It sounds like you need core & pelvic girdle strength - here are a few asanas to start, and I will share more in upcoming posts:

...you might want to practice away from the dogs.

Yoga also addresses energetic approaches for healing your condition. There are chakras (wheels of energy) within the body, as well as bandhas (energy locks), which are meant to be engaged during poses.

The Mula Bandha is called the root lock, and consciously locking it down gives your practice a lot more strength. It's located internally between the genitals and the anus. There is a second bandha called the Uddiyana Bandha behind the navel. Engaging them can make any asana appropriate for your healing!

If you're unfamiliar with how it feels to lock into these bandhas, there are some breathing techniques that can put you in touch:

  • Horse Mudra is for the Mula Bandha and is done by exhaling, holding the breath out, and pulsing the muscles between the genitals and anus. You can try 2 sets of 10 reps and build up.
  • Skull Shining Breath is for uddiyani bandha. As you exhale, draw the navel towards the spine. As you inhale, the belly easily releases and relaxes. This is forceful - exhale strongly as you draw in, and the inhale just sorta takes care of itself. You can try 2 sets of 33 reps, and build up.

These breathing exercises alone will be beneficial for you.

WOW - thank you for the thorough response!
The Mula Bandha sounds a lot like Kegel exercises and the Skull Shining Breath is definitely a lot like the breathing technique I would have to do when I was singing and had to take a super quick breath after a really long melisma. Sadly, I've done neither kegels or singing in a really long time.
I think I may have to put the dogs in the other room, risk their cries, and get moving again! Thank you so much!

You're very welcome!

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Hi, me again.

Love your posts, of course. But I have to ask before I promote them too much, do your photos have attribution? Do you take them yourself or get them from an open source?

Hi @baerdric! That's me, photo taken by the ever lovely @everlove

OK, I thought so but when I see better photos than I take, I have to ask if they are from a source! Lol!

I had to resteem this one especially with your thorough response to @merej99. Thank you. namaste. :)

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