Pose of the week! Present Pose (aka Bow pose or Dhanurasana

How to Practice Present Pose

Otherwise known as bow pose
Sankrit name: Dhanurasana 
​Lie on your belly and bend your knees, reaching back to hold your ankles with your hands. Inhale and pull your legs with your hands and pull your hands with your legs,find that opposition. Bring your heels far from your bottom and lifting your head, chest, and thighs from the floor. 

If the ankles are out of reach, experiment with placing a strap around your ankles to extend your reach (If you don’t have a strap, you can instead use a belt, towel, or the rope from a dressing gown).

Another prop that may be used is a rolled-up blanket or towel under the thighs or chest. 

Have fun in this pose

If the grown up is confident in this pose and has no back pain (we never want pain in our yoga practice!) then the child can sit inside the 'present'. Any excuse to climb on us while practicing Yoga right ;) 

Not Christmas at the time of reading this or just don't want the Christmas theme? Stick to calling this by its proper name (mentioned above) or maybe it's a shopping basket..... or even a turtle, maybe it's a spaceship!

Can you move side to side in this pose? How about forward and back? Can you hold it still for three breaths? How does the pose feel in your body?

Don't practice if....

Don't go practicing this after your Christmas dinner unless you want to be seeing it again! This one does not feel good after eating, stay clear. 
This pose is also not recommended for anyone with migraine, diarrhoea, who is pregnant, has low or high blood pressure or who has any kind of low back or neck pain. 
Always speak to a doctor before starting nay physical practice if you are unsure.  

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