I was inspired to create this video tutorial for child’s because I see many yogi’s taking the pose in class without positioning their bodies properly.

Balasana or Child’s Pose can be taken instead of downward facing dog and is often used at the start of a power vinyasa yoga practice. In this video, I demonstrate the classic version of child’s pose, which is more of a resting pose, as well as, the extended version, which is what we practice in power yoga class.

My inspiration came because I wanted to demonstrate how you can make the pose still active but surrend at the same time. As stated in the Yoga Sutras, “the ultimate goal of yoga lies in our surrender to a higher power and with practice we become free of the ego and connected to our Divine self”.  Symbolically this is what child’s pose represents.  The childlike surrender to the Divine self that opens us up to new possibilities. The surrender to give as well as receive, not just large things, but simple gestures of compassion.  Opening a door for a stranger, excepting when someone offers to help or even eye contact. As we let go of our roles in our everyday life and become engaged in what is going on around us.

When coming into the later version of the pose. Be sure to take you knees wide and your big toes to touch, let your sit bones come down to your heels first then walk your arms forward.  Keep the connection of sit bones and heels and take the proper props for support under the forehead.  Try and allow your hands to stay shoulder distance (this is key), while  allowing the arms to be straight  press down in every finger and knuckle, just like downward facing dog.  Notice the next time you take the pose and feel your forearms and elbows on the ground, lift up, baby step your hands further away and find a little more stretch.

Thanks for taking the time to read and watch my video tutorial   If you have any questions be sure to send them my way, just go to contact us! Hope to see you on the mat in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.