Yoga Pose of the Week: Bow Pose

Dhanurasana

(don-your-AHS-anna)
dhanu=bow

Bow Pose

back bend and chest opener

This pose looks like an archer's bow, the torso and legs being the body of the bow and the arms representing the string.

Cautions

• High or low blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Migraine
• Serious lower-back or neck injury

Therapeutic Applications

• Anxiety
• Constipation
• Fatigue
• Menstrual discomfort
• Mild backache
• Respiratory ailments

Benefits

• Improves posture
• Stretches entire front of the body - ankles, thighs and groins, abdomen and chest, and throat and deep hip flexors
• Strengthens the back muscles
• Stimulates the organs of the abdomen and neck

There are some modifications that can be made to this pose. If you are unable to hold your ankles a towel can be wrapped around the fronts of the ankles and hold on to the ends of the towel, keeping the arms fully extended.

*Shine like Glitter*
This was sort of a difficult week for me as I was dealing with a few things going on in my life.
However I turned to yoga to help clear my mind, to help me relax.
Life is not always easy. Life throws us curve balls (as I am sure we all know.) But in times of difficulty I turn to Jesus and prayer. And of course practice my yoga.
I know God has a plan for me, but I realize that I need to be in assistance to that plan. I can't just sit around and wait for it to fall into my lap because that is not how the world works, that is not how God works.
Things will get better.
Legs-up-the-wall last week helped with my inversions. It definitely took some getting used to but it was useful.