SANSKRIT: Ananda Balasana (ah-NAHN-dah bah-LAHS-anna)
DESCRIPTION: From a supine position, on your back, the knees are bent slightly wider than the hips. The ankles and shins track the knees in a 90-degree angle perpendicular to the earth. The hands grip the inside sole of the flexed feet (if you have difficulty holding the feet loop a strap over each sole) and push the knees down, coaxing the thighs in toward the torso, lengthening the spine, releasing the tailbone towards the earth and extending the base of the skull away from the back of the neck. The gaze is up towards the sky.
BENEFITS: Gently stretches the inner groins and the back spine. Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and fatigue.