- Namaste yogis,
Once a yoga student at the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga told me he was at the Big Day Out (you know 12 hours of standing in dense crowds and dancing) and his lower back started aching so he got down into a squat for a while and eased all the tightness out of his back. Now that’s taking yoga asanas out into your everyday life isn’t it! This pose gives a really nice stretch to the lower back but those of you with protruding discs should approach this and all forward bends very cautiously.
The Squat - From the Mountain Pose stand with the feet hip distance apart, raise up onto your toes and very slowly lower down into a squat.
- If your heels don’t reach the ground you can roll up your mat or a towel and place it under your heels so you can relax into the pose. (fig.1) Otherwise bring your heels to the floor.
- Place your elbows between your legs and bring your hands to prayer position. Encourage the legs to move apart, this will give a nice opening to the back of the hips as well as the lower back.
- Stay for as long as comfortable and breathe evenly.
When you have finished the pose you’ll be ready to get up and dance again!
