Unleash your inner baby
For all of you suffering from back pain , we’re rewinding the clock to simpler times when bodily aches and pains seemed unimaginable. The Happy Baby Pose or Ananda Balasana is a reminder of the days when playing with your feet and toes felt like a big achievement. This super simple but very affective stretch is great for relieving lower back tension. It also stretches the hips, inner groins, chest and shoulders. So let’s get started and take you back to those blissful baby days.
Getting into position
- Grab a yoga mat and lie comfortably on your back.
- Bend your knees up but keep the soles of your feet on the floor.
- Lift your right knee up towards your chest, and reach with your right hand to grasp your foot – you can hold your big toe if that feels more comfortable.
- Steady your balance before bringing your left knee to your chest and grasping it with your left hand.
- Relax your muscles and allow your spine and shoulders to sink onto the floor.
- Avoid any strain by keeping your tailbone on the ground to lengthen your spine in a neutral position.
- This is a relaxing pose so take a deep breath and enjoy the feeling of letting go. Feel the tension in your back seeping away. Hold the pose for as long as it’s comfortable. Be a happy baby.
Improvement tips:
If your hips are moving or you’re struggling to maintain balance, reach behind your knees or your shins instead of your feet.
This pose, which looks like a reclining squat, is ideal for stretching and relaxing the spine, but it also provides a nice mental break, calming the brain and relieving stress and fatigue.