Balasana


Bālāsana, Child's Pose, or Child's Resting Pose is a kneeling asana in modern yoga as exercise. Balasana is a counter asana for various asanas and is usually practiced before and after Sirsasana.

Etymology and origins

The name comes from the Sanskrit words बाल bala, "child" and आसन asana, "posture" or "seat".
Balasana is not described until the 20th century; a similar pose appears in Niels Bukh's 1924 Primary Gymnastics.
Ananda Balasana is illustrated as Kandukasana in the 19th century Sritattvanidhi.

Description

From a kneeling position, bring the forehead to the floor and relax the arms alongside the body, palms upwards.

Variations

If need be, and during pregnancy, the knees can be spread. The arms may be stretched forward in front of the head.
Discomfort in the neck and shoulders while performing Child's Pose can be alleviated "by placing a thickly rolled blanket between your buttocks and heels, then bend your elbows and stack your forearms so you can rest your forehead on them."
Ananda Balasana or "Happy Baby Pose" is an inverted form of Child's Pose; it has the body on the back, the thighs alongside the body, the knees bent and the hands grasping the toes.
Uttana Shishosana or "Extended Puppy Pose" stretches forwards from all fours until the forearms and forehead are resting on the floor and the thighs are vertical, giving a pose intermediate between Balasana and Adho Mukha Shvanasana.
Shasangasana or "Rabbit Pose", practised in Bikram Yoga, has the tailbone lifted until the thighs are vertical and the head and arms pointing back towards the feet, creating an intense flexion of the spine.