Commentary by Anne Johnson
September seems to be a month for festivals and celebrating the conclusion of summer. If you plan to indulge in delicious festival fare, I’m proud to share September’s stomach-soothing yoga pose.
Yoga helps us breathe space into our bodies and steady our minds. Yoga isn’t about perfecting a pose. It’s about getting to know our bodies through our breath. Now let me introduce Rocking Horse Pose.
Rocking horse, sometimes called bow pose, turns our body into a curved shape like an archer’s bow or the base of a favorite toy. It can help massage an upset tummy and give you a boost of energy, too.
Begin by lying on your belly. Bend your knees and bring your heels close to your bottom. Reach back with your hands to grab the outsides of your feet. Your torso, arms and legs will form a curve. If you can’t quite reach, stretch your arms straight back. With every breath something changes. Keep trying and you may just surprise yourself.
Now try rocking from front to back and side to side. Make sure you are taking deep breaths. In tricky poses we sometimes get caught holding our breath.
Rocking horse pose stretches the entire front of your body — ankles, thighs, core, chest and throat. While it stretches the front body, it strengthens your back and spine; which will help with good posture. Rock your way into a stronger you.
Join me next month to learn about another yoga pose, its benefits and even give it a try yourself. The sunshine in me honors the warm sunshine in you.
Contributor Anne Johnson teaches kids, tots, expectant and new mothers yoga at Simply Yoga in Zionsville. As a 200 RYT registered yoga teacher, engineer and children’s book author, Anne enjoys writing and sharing “adult ideas” in a way that makes them accessible to children.
