Need to settle your mind or just pause during your class? Balasana (Child’s Pose) might be your ticket to freedom. You can take this pose at any point in your class to tune into your breath. Come to a kneeling position. Spread your knees wide, touch your toes together and sit back on your heels. Reach your arms toward the front of the mat. Your head can connect to a block or the earth. Allow your breath to move in and out of your nose. On each breath in, the belly expands into the thighs. Each breath out allows the hips to settle toward the heels a little bit more. This pose is great for resting in your yoga class.

This pose is helpful for stretching the hips, thighs, and ankles. It calms the brain, decreases stress and fatigue. It can be done after eating to relieve heaviness in the stomach. If you are pregnant, suffer from a knee injury or experiencing diarrhea, you may want to take a pass on this pose. You can place a blanket between your thighs and calves for a little more support.

Resources:

Editors, Yoga Journal. (2007, August 28). Child’s Pose. Retrieved January 03, 2018, from https://www.yogajournal.com/poses/child-s-pose
Iyengar, B. K. S. Light on yoga: the definitive guide to yoga practice. Thorsons, 2015.