Calming Emotions w/Yogic "Child Pose" (Garbhasana)

Child Pose:  Come down to your mat and sit on your heels with knees together. Align your spine from the sitting bones up through the crown of you head. Inhale in temporary pose Vajrasana (Upright Child).

Exhale: Bending forward at the hips extending the torso over your kness. Bring your forehead to the floor and place your arms along side your body, palms up.

To Release: Roll up slowly, one verterbrae at a time.

Variation: Pillow or blanket between heels and buttocks, or rolled under the ankles.
                  Pillow or blanket under forehead.
                  Extended arms over head on to mat.

Benefits:   

• Deeply tranquilizes the entire system, calming mind and emotions.
• Provides counter-stretch from backward poses.
• Increases flexibility in the hips and legs.
• Massages, oxygenates and decongests abdominal organs.
• Tones and stimulates pancreas, liver, gall bladder, kidneys, spleen, intestines, gonads and bladder.
• Improves peristaltic action in intestines.
• Stimulates digestion and elimination.
• Relieves intestinal gas.
• Helps relieve constipation.
• Helps relieve hemorriods.

Precautions:

• Constipation: practice carefully, avoid long holdings, and if pain is evident cease repeating pose.
• Pregnancy (after third month) spread knees apart, use optional cushion(s) under forehead and buttocks, leaving room between belly and thighs.
• Sensitivity in knees or ankles. Use soft folded blanket under knees or ankles.
• Stiff or muscle bound hips and legs: Place one or more cushions between hips and heels.
• Uncontrolled HBP (high blood pressure) or excessive pressure in head or eyes: Place a cushion under forehead.

Contraindications:

• Recent or chronic injury or inflammation in knee(s).