Balasana- A yoga-asana for stress and anxiety

Balasana is a very important yoga asana for stress and anxiety. It helps to slow down our thoughts and brings us inwards to our body.  It is also known as child pose as we lay down as a child in this position. It is also among the easiest yoga pose. In this post we will learn:

1. Precautions
2. How to do balasana
3. Benefits of the yoga-asana


Precautions:

The precautions are similar to what we observe in any yoga pose.

• Be empty stomach ( about 3 hrs after meal)
• And most importantly keep the mobile phone away during the practice

In case of issues mentioned below please refrain from the asana:

• Knee injury
• Hyper tension
• Pregnant women
• Diarrhea

How to do balasana:

Balasana is a sitting pose. It can be done when we are starting the yoga session or when we are making a transition from standing poses to sitting poses.
The steps involved are:

1. Sit on your knees and heels (similar to Vajra asana)
2. Take a deep breath. While breathing stretch your hands upward.
3. While exhaling bend forward along with the hands
4. Touch the mat by your forehead and hands stretched forward with palm down facing ground
5. Take a few deep breaths while in this position.
6. Afterward, come back to the sitting pose.
7. Repeat the steps for 2-3 times.

Benefits:

1. Helps to bring us to our body
2. Improves the flow of blood to the brain
3. Slows down thoughts
4. Relieves stress and anxiety
5. Makes spine flexible

The Heart Greater than the Mind

The mind is very powerful. But even more powerful is our heart. However, it takes a lot of practice to tap the guidance from the heart. The voices from the mind are generally louder than that coming from the heart. We need to calm down the mind’s chatter to seek wisdom from the heart. When tuned to the frequency of heart, we are home. A poem to have faith in the inner source of wisdom.

If the mind is Pandora's Box
The heart is golden fleece
If the mind is the sun,
The heart is the universe,
The heart is greater than the mind

If the mind can make cacophony,
The heart can make music.
If the mind can spin,
The heart can dance.
The heart is greater than the mind

If the mind can compare,
The heart can share.
It the mind can separate,
The heart can help to be intimate
The heart is greater than the mind

If the mind knows physics,
The heart knows chemistry.
The mind may desire one-day affairs,
Heart believes in a journey of a lifetime.
The heart is greater than the mind

If the mind comes up with self-criticism,
The heart comes up with self-love.
If the mind dwells in past & karma,
The heart takes you to the powerful present.
The heart is greater than the mind.