Why You Need Child's Pose in Your Routine

Yoga poses aren't just for yogis. You don't have to be extra bendy or even somewhat flexible to benefit from these poses. Many poses can be done in the comfort of your own home. You don't have to wait for any specific time or place to get on it. Child's pose is one of those poses that you don't need significant coaching to get into. As an added bonus, this posture can do a lot to help you feel restored and centered. If you're looking for something that you can do while you meditate or after a workout, child's pose is your answer.

How to Do Child's Pose

1. Kneel on your mat or another comfortable flat surface with your knees about hip width apart, and allow your big toes to touch.
2. Exhale as you bend forward, resting your body between your thighs.
3. Allow your forehead to rest on the mat, keeping your neck relaxed. And allow your arms to rest behind you alongside your torso with your palms facing up. Relax your shoulders and allow their weight to pull them to the floor.
4. If you want to engage more muscles while in this pose, stretch your arms forward, past your ears with palms facing down and fingers spread apart.

That's it. As this is a restorative pose, you can stay in this pose for as long as you feel comfortable. You may feel more comfortable with a towel folded under your forehead or a rolled towel placed just below your shins or between your calves and thighs. While resting in Child's pose, don't forget to breathe into your belly and release tension in your neck, back and stomach. This may not be the pose for you if you are pregnant, have suffered knee injury or are experiencing diarrhea.

The Benefits of Child's Pose

As previously mentioned, this is a restorative pose, so a lot of the benefits center around calm and rejuvenation. But there are some surprisingly welcome side effects to look forward to with regular practice of this pose. Here are some things you'll have to look forward to.

• A good stretch. Child's pose will gently stretch your spine, thighs, hips and ankles.
• Calm. This pose promotes calm and relaxation, giving your brain a break, reducing mental fatigue, stress and anxiety. The central nervous system really enjoys this pose.
• Improved digestion. Because you are gently compressing your abdomen in this pose, it can stimulate and improve digestion.
• Release tension.Child's pose is a great tension reliever when you place your focus on letting go. The shoulders and lower back are likely to feel the greatest release.
• Improved blood circulation. Stretching the body allows for better blood flow.
• Alignment. A proper child's pose can help to strengthen and lengthen the spine while maintaining spinal alignment, which can improve the posture.

As you can see there are plenty of good reasons to stretch out in child's pose regularly. Not only will you notice a difference in your muscles, but also in your mental clarity. You can add this to your bedtime or wake up routine or make this an alternative meditation pose. When life gives you an unexpected twist, child's pose. When you need a time out, child's pose. When you're feeling a little tight, child's pose. It's a great go to position for most of us, so give it a try and tell us what you think.