Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose is beginner-friendly and does not require a lot of flexibility or strength. Photo courtesy of Fred Padilla.
By Karen Reeves Watson
A regular reader of this column might remember that the pose from the March edition, the Headstand, is not a beginner-friendly pose, nor it is accessible to anyone with neck and spinal issues. This month’s pose, however, is quite beginner-friendly and inverts the body without straining the head or neck. Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose does not require a lot of flexibility or strength and can be done by most people.
Some of the primary benefits of Legs-Up-The-Wall pose include:
Relieves anxiety. This pose is all about relaxing the body and letting go of tension that we all tend to carry. It is a quiet, still pose that calms the central nervous system.
Improves circulation. When we stand or sit all day, the legs can swell because the body is not circulating blood well. Holding the legs up in this position helps ease discomfort and keeps the blood from pooling and staying in the legs.
Balances the body. Sometimes we just need to be still. Most of our days are filled with activity. Being in Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose for just twenty minutes is the polar opposite of the busyness of daily life.
While the legs are resting and restoring, there are options for the arms. As pictured, the hands can be placed on the center of the chest (the heart space) and the lower abdominal area (the sacral space) in a grounding position. They can also be resting by the sides of the torso, reaching overhead holding opposite elbows, or in a cactus shape.
Need to relax after a tiring day? Instead of hitting the couch, try lifting the legs against a wall. And enjoy! Ahhhhh . . .
** Three free classes to the person who correctly identifies the location of the pose.
Karen Watson Reeves has called Hot Springs home since 2006. Owner of The Yoga Place, at 301 Whittington Avenue, she became a registered yoga/children’s yoga teacher in 2011. She is on the Hot Springs YMCA teaching staff and is an adjunct instructor at National Park College. When not on the mat, Karen enjoys the beautiful outdoors of the National Park, especially from her bicycle. For more information about her studio and her schedule of classes, visit www.theyogaplacehs.com.
