Child’s Pose ~ Garbasana (also called, Balasana)
The comfort of this pose is meant to remember your connection to the childlike sensation of surrender and being in a state of non-doing.
This pose resembles a fetal postion and provides physical, mental, and emotional support to your entire being.
When my world was suddenly turned upside in late February, this is what my yoga practiced looked like... this pose allowed me to focus on my breath. This pose was my safe place in the days following my dads passing. Tears flowed every time I sat in this pose in private. Those tears kept my emotions moving through me, and over the course of a few weeks, helped me to turn the pain and loss into a way of going more in depth with my practice with an open heart. Slowly, I began to rise up and open my heart using a few open heart poses, and witnessed the stuck, stagnant energy of my unprocessed feeling release. This journey into yoga has taught me to turn inward, to listen to my body, and to do what feels right for me at any given moment.
Learning to use this pose is an important part of your practice. It is when you listen to your body’s inner voice and do what it tells you. Your body will always tell you when it is time to rest…quiet your mind…listen…this is when you can fall into your child’s pose.
In Child’s pose, you rest your forehead on the earth with your legs tucked underneath you and your arms stretched beside you. When you start to practice this pose you will slowly start to experience many benefits. Maybe you can practice this pose right in bed before you start your day or right before bed?!
It’s a gentle resting pose with many benefits attached. A simple comforting pose that stretches your hips, thighs, and legs, relieving stress and tension in the chest, back,and shouders. This pose helps to message and flex your internal organs, keeping them active. It also helps to stretch and lengthen your spine and promotes blood circulation throughout your entire body. The tendons, muscles, and ligaments in your knee are also thoroughly stretched.
This pose calms the brain and helps relieve stress and fatigue. It encourages you to keep your breath steady and strong, and can help rejuvenate the entire body in just a few breaths.
I love to start my personal practice in this pose. I modify this pose with my knees super wide apart and my toes together, arms reaching straight out in front of me. I focus on engaging my core while I gently stretch my back and connect to my breath. I enjoy this pose first thing in the morning, it helps me to ground myself for whatever type of practice I’m about to move into.
This is the simplest yoga pose you can practice that will bring out the child in you, making your feel happy, while completely stretching and relaxing your mind, body, and soul. 😌
Sending you love & light…from my heart to yours, Stacey ❤️
