Three Yoga Poses for Vata Season
During the shift from summer to autumn the air and ether elements bring a transitional season. The climate turns cooler, dryer, and there is more movement in nature - leaves fall, animals start storing up for winter and produce is harvested. This is a time for grounding practices and poses to help the body feel stable and at ease amidst the change.
Balasana (Child’s Pose)
Start in a table top position with hands under shoulders and knees under hips.
Move your knees away from each other for more sensation in the hips and knees closer together for more sensation in the low back.
Glide your hips back to your heels and reach your arms forward.
Allow your forehead to rest on the ground or if it doesn't reach - use a pillow
Close your eyes and breath deeply into your back body.
Hold for 10 breaths, then walk your hands back to your knees and slowly roll up to stand."
Benefits: This pose lengthens the spine, quiets the mind and provides gentle compression to the Vata part of the body (the lower gastrointestinal).
Salamba Bhujangasana (Shpinx pose)
Lie on your stomach (do not do this pose if pregnant)
Walk your elbows forward under your shoulders. You should be propped up like you could watch t.v.
Extend your legs straigh back behind you and press the tops of your feet into the floor.
Press firmly into your arms - look straigh ahead and imagine pulling your chest through the arms.
Hold for 10 breaths, then release your chest to the ground.
Benefits: This pose is great for improving posture, strengthening the spine, and lengthening the front body. It gently compresses the lower abdominals targeting where the Vata energy exists.
Malasana (Garland pose)
Bring a block or pillow to the top of your mat. If you have intense knee or hip pain try sitting on a low chair or stool.
Start in downward facing dog.
Extend one leg up to the sky open the hip and switch sides.
Step the right foot outside of the right hand.
Step the left foot outside the left hand.
If you feel uncomfortable - use your block or pillow to sit on.
Toes turned out, knees pointing the sky, spine is long.
Hold for 10 breaths, then straighten legs and forward fold.
Benefits: This pose has so many benefits! Excellent for flexibility, digestion, back pain, childbirth, anxiety, the list goes on. Malasana opens the hips and lengthens the spine creating an open channel for the Vata energy to flow.