Balance the heat of Summer with these 2 cooling poses!
Supta Baddha Konasana • Reclined Bound Angle Pose • Goddess Pose
Supta Baddha Konasana is an amazing pose to practice year long and is particularly cooling for the body and mind.
Place a block at desired height under far end of bolster to give a slight incline to add support to the spine. Sit with sacrum against the bolster and sit bones on the mat (or blanket for extra cushion) Butterfly your knees & bring the sole of your feet together, placing a rolled up blanket or a block under each knee for support. Begin reclining on the bolster. You can place a folded blanket under your head and another one over your belly and hips area to encourage relaxation.
Stay in this pose for 7-10 minutes.
Benefits of Supta Baddha Konasana
- Lowers blood pressure
- Decreases heart rate
- Decreases muscle tension
- Offers relief from fatigue and insomnia
- Reduces nervous tension and stress
- Relief from anxiety and panic attacks
- Increases overall energy levels
Viparita Karani • Legs Up The Wall
Viparita Karani is known for the calming effects it has on the mind and body.
Legs Up the Wall is a rejuvenating inverted pose that brings relief to the legs, feet, spine, and nervous system. It can be practiced at anytime although some school of thoughts say to avoid this pose during menstruation.
It can be practiced with or without props. I like using a bolster or a blanket under my sacrum, a blanket over my belly and sometimes one over my feet to ground my heated mind!
Benefits of Viparita Karani:
- Reduces Anxiety & Stress
- Aids with digestive problems
- Relieves Headaches
- Helps with high and low blood pressure
- Relieves insomnia
- Relieves migraines
- Helps with menstrual cramps & PMS