It's So Easy, A Child Can Do It

Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.
-Rumi

Often referred to as a resting pose in yoga, Balasana, or "child's pose," offers an opportunity to both turn inward and connect with the earth in a gesture of gratitude and prayer. Many times in class I have heard teachers tell their students (and I have said this too) that at any point during class, they should feel free to rest in child's pose if needed--if a pose becomes too difficult. And while this is great advice, Balasana can be a challenging pose all on its own.

Physically, this pose requires a certain amount of flexibility in the hips and ankles, knees (mostly) free from inury, and openness in the back of the body.

From a kneeling posture, sit back on your heels. Inhale, then as you exhale, begin to fold foward bringing your forehead to the floor (you can place a folded blanket, bolster or block and rest your forehead there). You can have your arms extended or let them rest along side your body. Variations for the legs include having knees and feet together; knees and feet apart; knees apart and feet together.

Breathing in this pose might feel quite challenging. Because the chest and belly are resting on the thighs, and gravity is pulling them down, breathing can feel resticted if there is tightness in the back of the body. This is a wonderful time to learn to consciously send breath into a specific are of the body--in this case, the back.

Emotionally and psychologically, it requires a certain amount of humility and an openness to bow down and merge with something that is both an extension of and greater than oneself. Questions to mediate on while in the pose are: "What supports and grounds me?" "What I am bowing to?" "What am I offering?"