3 Restorative Yoga Poses To Survive The Afternoon Hump
Is this you? Rough night, running around all morning, stiff neck and back from replying to 3 day old messages, and you’ve gobbled down your lunch in 5 minutes.
Suddenly 2pm and you’re just feeling ‘’plofff’’. You don’t have time for a nap, so if you’re anything like me, you reach out for that 2nd or 3rd cup of coffee and power through the afternoon. That’s fine once in a while, but I’m starting to see it’s not very sustainable in the long run. Plus, if you’re a light sleeper like I am, it definately doesn’t help at night!
You only need 15 minutes
Here is a short and complete restorative practice which can be done in 15 minutes. Practice these 3 poses to give you a rest and energy boost at the same time. This will leave you feeling restored and refreshed, ready to continue your day.
You will need:
- a bolster or cushion
- a belt
- 2 blocks
Watch the video to show you how to enter and come out of each poses, and then check out details for each pose below.
Supta Badhakonasa (5-10 min)
Move into the pose:
- Sitting on the floor, drop your knees to the sides and bring the soles of your feet together
- Slowly lean back on a bolster, rest the kidneys and lower back on the bolster
- Support your knees with blocks under each side
- Drop your arms onto the floor beside you and slide the shoulder blades down towards your kidneys
Make it more comfortable by:
- Padding your buttocks or lower back with a blanket if that’s more comfortable
- Placing a cushion or a folded blanket under your head
- Covering your legs with a blanket
Janu Sirsana (3-5 mins each side)
Move into the pose:
- Sit on a folder blanket with your legs straight
- Bend the right knee
- Place the right heel near your groin so the sole of the right foot is in contact with the left thigh
- Place a bolster over the left thigh
- Inhaling lift the sping, and on the exhalation fold forwards over the bolsters
- Relax your arms on the floor
Make it more comfortable by:
- Sitting up on a blanket
- Using 2 or more bolsters or cushions
- Placing a block under your forehead.
Uttanapadasana (5-10 mins)
Move into the pose:
- Sit with one side of your hip against the wall
- Tie a belt or scarf around your ankles
- Lie back on the floor and bring your legs up the wall
- Scoot your hips so your buttocks are as close to the wall as possible
Make it more comfortable by:
- Using a bolster to add some weight on top of the feet