Welcome to the Rest and Restore Challenge. Each day during advent I will offer a new suggestion for you to include into your daily yoga practice. I hope that this will encourage you to carve out a moment for yourself each day and give yourself the gift of relaxation.
If you’d like to join the ongoing discussion during the challenge, and get some bonuses, then please head over, and join my Facebook Group.
So here’s our first pose – Legs up the wall or Viparita Karani if you like a bit of Sanskrit. This pose is a wonderful way to practice savasana as it acts as an inversion, encouraging our bodies to enter into relaxation mode. If you don’t like using a wall, try this pose with your legs resting on a chair, bed or the sofa.
Name – Viparita Karani
English translation – Legs up the wall
Benefits – supports mild anxiety, arthritis, digestive issues, great for headaches, hypertension, sleep issues, migraines, improves breathing
Contraindication – high blood pressure, heart disease, thyroid disorders
Duration – stay in this pose from between 5 long, slow, deep breaths up to 10 minutes
Added bonus – place an eye pillow or a face cloth over your eyes to encourage a bit more relaxation
Yoga by Gillian 