The fourth pose in my series of restorative yoga is supported wide-legged forward bend. You can read about the full restorative yoga series here.
Here’s how you benefit from this yoga pose:
- Your brain goes into an alpha state, calming your mind
- You gently release tight muscles in your inner groins and hips
- You gently release your hamstring muscles
- Your lower back relaxes
- Releases sciatic nerve pain
- Relief from headaches and migraines
- Restore your adrenal glands
- Rebuild your energy
- Relieve anxiety and depression
Many people would like to be able to perform a front split but they need to take the time to stretch their legs, hips and inner groins.
This is a perfect pose for you to relax and allow those muscles to release to prepare for more challenging front splits.
Even if you never want to do a front split, supported wide-legged forward bend is a great pose for unwinding.
Here’s how you do it:
- Place a yoga bolster on a yoga mat or soft carpet.
- Sit down facing the bolster and bring your legs as wide as you are comfortable.
- Remember that in yoga, we want to find our edge – the place where the pose is interesting but not excruciating. As you hold the pose, your hips, groins and legs may open up and you may be able to spread your legs wider, but don’t force it.
- Caution: If you have lower back pain, you may want to avoid this pose. Make an appointment with me if you have back pain to learn how to unwind your discomfort naturally.
- Be sure that you sit with ante version of the pelvis – that means you want your hip bones rolled forwards, not backwards.
- Pull your belly button towards your spine.
- Folding forward, reach your arms out on the yoga bolster.
- Grab your elbows, making a little pillow for your forehead.
- Listen to the sound of your breath.
- Relax! Allow the pose to do the work.
If you would like to learn more, call 678-612-8816 or email catherine@unlimitedenergynow.com to set up an appointment. I will organize the bolsters and blankets for you so your entire experience is totally luxurious and relaxing.
You can learn more yoga poses by visiting my gallery of photos at this link or watching my videos at this link.
To learn a sequence of restorative yoga poses, please read my blog at this link.
To join our regular yoga classes or set up an appointment for private instruction, please email catherine@unlimitedenergynow.com or call 678-612-8816. I’ve now taught yoga for 25 years.
Yoga classes meet every Tuesday and Thursday evening, 7:30 to 9 p.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.