5) Legs up the Wall
How to do it: Sit with the hip against the wall. Pivot body while stretching your legs up the wall, relaxing the torso onto the ground. Hold for 3-5 minutes. Option: cover eyes with mask or towel to further calm the mind.
Why it works: Being inverted helps to calm the mind and nervous system while reducing fatigued leg muscles. Lying with the legs up the wall allows your breath to slow down, allowing for a full body relaxation. This also helps to reduce varicose veins.
6) Sivasana- Corpse Pose
How to do it: Lie flat on the back with feet slightly apart, legs relaxed. Place the hand a few inches from the body, palms facing up. With the eyes gently closed relax the body focusing on your breathing. Hold for 12 breaths.
Why it works: It is important to take a few minutes in sivasana at the end of each yoga session to allow the benefits of the practice to settle. It rests and relieves any tension within the body, leaving the body completely restored after just a few minutes of conscious breathing.
First published in Chatelaine.com's June 2008 issue.
© Rogers Publishing Ltd.
