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 2^nd or 3^rd 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