Have you ever observed how limber most children are? How are they able to assume positions that seem difficult?
At first glance, most of the postures assumed by children, especially during play, do seem slightly out of the league of most grown-ups. But when adults actually try to do them, it would turn out that not all of the positions assumed by children are that challenging after all.
In Hatha Yoga, we have the Child’s Pose or Balasana in Sanskrit (bala = child, asana = pose).
Warmly welcome the Child’s Pose as your first Hatha Yoga pose, because it is a major stress reliever and will greatly encourage you to go on and on with your Hatha Yoga lessons.
Qualities of the Child’s Pose
The Child’s Pose is simplicity personified. Children generally have an unaffected manner in facing life. They are mostly free of pretensions, and as such are able to direct their energies towards the pursuit of what they are really after. They don’t spend energy wasting it on cover-ups, an overblown sense of self-importance and other attitudes that can be obstacles to their quest for happiness and serenity.
The Child’s Pose has been named in honor of the down-to-earth and unaffected nature of children, as a whole.
Benefits of the Child’s Pose
- Mental – the Child’s Pose makes the mind settle down and detach from the worries of life.
- Physical – while the focal point of the Child’s Pose is on the thighs, it is also beneficial for the ankles and hips. When you assume the Child’s Pose, make sure that you have support for your trunk and head, in order to drive away the aches that affect your neck and back.
- Spiritual – the Child’s Pose requires the kind of breathing that makes the back of torso feel as if it is rising, with spinal widening and lengthening being achieved. These, in turn, lessen stress and fatigue, and give you a calmer inner balance.
Video Demonstration of the Child’s Pose:
Right now is a good time to subscribe to the MyFitnessNut.com Newsletter so that you can gain access to all 70 Hatha Yoga demonstration videos. You will also find 7 sets of 10 Hatha Yoga poses set up to show you some samples of yoga workout routines that you can use as is; or as an example to put together your own yoga workout routine using the individual yoga exercises on the separate videos.
Safety Alert
The Child’s Pose is not recommended for people who are pregnant or have digestive problems, specifically, loose bowel movement (diarrhea).
In the previous article you learned about how you can gain a pro-active advantage learning yoga at home. Now that you have a grasp on the Child’s Pose, let’s ease into the “Cat-Cow Pose” to enhance flexibility and your inner calm.
