This entry was posted on Feb 12, 2025 by Charlotte Bell.

Supta Baddhakonasana (Reclining Sure Angle Pose) is most frequently practiced as a Restorative pose. Within the final restorative model, we use all the good things—Yoga Blocks, a Commonplace Yoga Bolster and a Yoga Blanket or two. However we will additionally observe Supta Baddhakonasana in a extra simplified means. A Yoga Mat and a pair Yoga Blocks simply is perhaps sufficient so that you can take pleasure in an easeful respite within the pose.
As a really flexible particular person, I traditionally resisted utilizing assist below my thighs in Supta Baddhakonasana. Blocks below the thighs had been for stiffer of us, I assumed. However just lately I’ve observed my sacroiliac (SI) joints feeling achy after practising it. As I thought of what is perhaps the trigger, I spotted that it is perhaps the intense angle of my thighs.
My thighs fall simply to the ground within the pose. Because of this, I can really feel that my glutes truly compress my SI joint. If I keep greater than a minute—and I at all times wish to keep greater than a minute—my SI joint suffers. Inserting a Yoga Block below every thigh nonetheless confers the pose’s many advantages, however with out the drawbacks. I’ve begun suggesting that each one my college students—particularly the flexible ones—assist their legs within the pose.
Supta Baddhakonasana Advantages
Supta Baddhakonasana is one in all solely a small handful of yoga poses which might be applicable to observe after consuming. By increasing the stomach, it facilitates the stream of power and meals matter into the decrease quadrants of the stomach, the place the small and huge intestines reside. In my expertise, the spaciousness this pose creates helps stimulate motion to help the let-go course of.
Supta Baddhakonasana relieves the contracted or heavy sensation we regularly really feel after over-eating, and might relieve menstrual cramps. As a result of this pose may be very enjoyable, it helps transfer us into the rest-and-digest (parasympathetic) facet of our autonomic nervous system, which stimulates digestion and helps relieve stress.
The right way to Observe Reclining Sure Angle Pose with Yoga Blocks
- Collect your props: Yoga Mat, two Yoga Blocks and a Yoga Blanket (elective). I like to position a folded blanket below my head and neck for a bit of additional assist and luxury.
- Sit in Dandasana (Employees Pose) in your mat. Place the soles of your toes collectively and bend your knees out to the edges. Place a block below every thigh. Be sure that the blocks are far sufficient below your thighs that they’re supporting them.
- Place your palms behind you and lean again. Then bend your elbows so that you just’re resting in your forearms together with your fingers pointing towards your glutes.
- Now push your fingers into your glutes to encourage your tailbone to level towards your heels.
- Lie again onto the ground, putting a folded blanket below your head and neck for those who like.
- Calm down right here and breathe for two to 10 minutes.
- To go away the pose, place your palms below your thighs. Use your palms to assist your legs as you progress them towards your chest. Then place your toes on the ground, hips-width aside, together with your knees upright, in Constructive Relaxation Place. Calm down right here so long as you want.
About Charlotte Bell
Charlotte Bell found yoga in 1982 and started educating in 1986. Charlotte is the creator of Aware Yoga, Aware Life: A Information for On a regular basis Observe and Yoga for Meditators, each printed by Rodmell Press. Her third e-book is titled Hip-Wholesome Asana: The Yoga Practitioner’s Information to Defending the Hips and Avoiding SI Joint Ache (Shambhala Publications). She writes a month-to-month column for CATALYST Journal and serves as editor for Yoga U On-line. Charlotte is a founding board member for GreenTREE Yoga, a non-profit that brings yoga to underserved populations. A lifelong musician, Charlotte performs oboe and English horn within the Salt Lake Symphony and folks sextet Purple Rock Rondo, whose DVD gained two Emmy awards.