Why This One Daily Pose Changed My Life
I am by no means a yogi but I discovered this yoga pose in a Yin Yoga class with my fellow Liebe Wellness bud and Yogi, Liana. In yoga its called Viparita Karani which in sanskrit means "inverted in action”. In layman’s terms, its known as the Legs-Up-The-Wall pose and you don’t even need a wall (but it helps by adding support) and it doesn’t require a great deal of strength or flexibility.
So what is it you ask? Well basically you lie on your back with your legs up against the wall and your sit bone as close to the wall as possible, without restricting the abdominal muscles. Hold this pose for a few minutes then gently, release. Thats it!
I like to do this to relax and unwind for about 10-15 minutes whilst focusing on my breath and I find its a lovely meditative position.
What Does It Do?
Well, a few things actually. I learned about what it does before taking our family trip to Hawaii earlier this year.
I have very thick blood and very poor, stagnant circulation so travelling on a plane for long hours and immobility in general, increases my risk of clotting. Without going into too much detail, this pose was also added to my self-care repetoire, before and after the flight to help with blood flow and circulation.
But thats not all. Here are some of the other great benefits of this pose.
1. Supports a healthy nervous system
It helps to calm and quieten the busy mind and enhances the functioning of the nervous system and in conjunction with deep diaphragmatic breathing it can reduce stress, anxiety and insomnia.
2. Helps to alleviate aches and pains
It relieves tired and aching muscles in the legs and according to studies it can be helpful for those suffering from Restless Leg Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. It can also help to release tension in the lower back.
3. Improves circulation and reduces oedema
It reduces swelling and puffiness in the legs and feet (oedema) by improving the circulation of both blood and lymph and aiding the removal of toxins.
4. Provides all the benefits of inversion
It requires little effort and can reduce the effects of gravity on the entire body. It gently moves stagnation, blood and lymph while enhancing digestion and improving blood pressure.
5. Helps the body to slow down
A great post workout recovery as it lowers the heart rate and slows down the body. It also gives the legs and lower back a good stretch.
6. Relaxes the pelvic floor
By adding a cushion under the pelvis to tilt the area it can help to relax the pelvic floor muscles.
For only a few minutes a day, rest and surrender to this pose and see how you feel. Don’t forget to let me know how you go in the comments below. x
