Balasana Pose

Balasana or child's pose brings the gaze inward by calming our energy and creating a calmer inner landscape.  Physically the pose releases the hips, lower back and stretches the ankles.
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Coming into child's pose by bringing the big toes together to touch.  Spread the knees just far enough for your lower torso to gently rest on the upper thighs. 

Place the palms face down on the thighs, inhale to cultivate length from the hips to the shoulders and out through the crown of the head.  Maintain this length as you slowly walk the hands forward, reaching toward the front of your mat, until your forehead gently rests on the earth (or a pillow for support).  Actively spreading the fingers to stretch the palms and fingers. 

As you inhale fill into the back body (the area around your upper hips) and exhale invite in heaviness into the front side of the body.  Release tension in the neck by rocking from side-to-side on the forehead or third eye center.  Focus on the sound or path that your breathe takes to allow the connection to deepen the connection to the true Self.

If this pose is new to your practice, begin with 1-2 minutes and build-up in small increments.