“Are you tired? Run down? Listless? Do you poop out at parties? “
Well, I’ve got a couple of resting tips for you.
Legs Up the Wall Pose (Viparita Karani)
Viparita Karani literally means “inverted action”. It’s so easy, you won’t want to do anything else. Sit down on the floor or bed, shimmy your bum against the wall, put your legs up and lay down. Then just relax with your arms to the sides. As beautifully demonstrated by yogi, Katie Pearson, you can see that this pose can be done anywhere, for any reason.
This pose also plays a key role in improving sleep amongst many other vital factors in well-being. For example, it can serve as a refresher after standing or sitting for a long time, in which some of us are most guilty! ‘Legs up the wall pose’ is a contributor to calming the mind as well as releasing physical tension.
Yoga Journal’s columnist, Jeanie Manchester, states that combining restorative poses (like ‘legs up the wall’ with deep breathing (inhaling deeply through the nose and exhaling even longer through the mouth) can activate the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The PNS, which is connected to the cranial (brain) nerves, is what’s responsible for allowing our body to achieve a state of rest. So please, don’t forget to breathe.
YogaToes® Toe Stretchers
I wear my YogaToes® for legs up the wall pose because it’s the best (and I actually can’t function without them). These funny little ‘pedicure-style’ toe separators help to open and realign the foot’s joints and tissue. They also help to optimize mobility and reduce pain. Perfect for the end of a long day/ after a night of dancing (er, stomping).
No YogaToes®? Go to your local pharmacy and grab some standard pedicure toe separators in the meantime (yes, that’s an order).
It’s completely essential to incorporate rest into our daily schedule. It allows the body to rejuvenate and protect itself from messy things like anxiety and illness.
Happy 4 day weekend!
