Would you like to lower stress hormones, get deeper sleep, and wake up more rested? ✨ Sounds like a dream, right?
It’s been a super long day for me here in the tropical ends of Bali, so I’m turning to what is probably the most nourishing, grounding and calming yoga pose in existence “Legs Up the Wall Pose” (yes, that’s the name).
Legs up the wall pose, also known as Viparita Karani, is a restorative yoga posture that allows the mind and the body to relax, relieving stress and tension. Even though all you have to do is lay there with your feet up, the benefits are instantaneous & widespread. I like to use this practice combined with inhaling some of my favourite essential oil blends or burning incense and dimming the lights in the process of it… I might even go as far as closing my eyes and playing some gentle meditative music to give myself full-on spa like experience to my sacred temple
This is how you do it:
Lie on your back with your butt as close to the wall as is comfortable for you. Extend your legs up the wall so that the backs of your legs are resting fully against it, and BREATHE.
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BENEFITS:
- REDUCES SWELLING + EDEMA – By reversing the effects of gravity on your legs, you can really help to move any stuck or stagnant fluids that may build up if you have poor circulation or spend a lot of time on your feet. This is also beneficial for swollen ankles & varicose veins.
- CALMS ANXIETY + STRESS – Combining this pose with rhythmic, deep breathing activates the “rest and digest” leg of your nervous system.
- IMPROVES CIRCULATION – Inverting the body supports circulation by facilitating the return of blood back to the heart.
- RELIEVES LOWER BACK TENSION – Pressure is released from the spine (especially when performed on a bed or cushion), relieving the back from mild strain
- SOOTHES TIRED/SORE LEG MUSCLES
- STRETCHES THE HAMSTRINGS + LOWER BACK
- INCREASES BLOOD FLOW TO THE NECK + THROAT, NOURISHING THE THYROID GLAND AND THROAT CHAKRA