
August 15, 2019 at 11:38AM by CWC
Whenever I take a yin yoga class (which is all about deep, long stretching), I can almost feel my thoughts melting into beautiful pink goo. Pigeon pose is my main squeeze. Iād sell my first born child before letting forward fold slip through my fingertips. But thereās one asana that I wouldnāt give up for anything. A pose that many of my yoga teachers have declared to be, and I quote, āthe most relaxingā asana out there.
Now that I have you on the edge of your seat, Iāll tell you that the pose with said mystical reputation is half frog pose. When you do the poseās two-legged version, itās a powerful groin stretch wherein you really, truly do look like an amphibian. Picture this: both your knees are on the mat and splayed out wide, your calves form a 90-degree angle with your thighs, and you slowly lower your chest to the ground until sensation leaps through your lower body.
The half version is much more gentle. You lie all the way down on your stomach then hike one knee up so itās forms just one 90-degree angle. It feels like tension is pouring out of you the minute you slide into it. But since I wasnāt sure why, I asked yoga teacher Lindsay PirozziĀ of New York CityāsĀ Y7 studio why half frog is such a standout. āItās so relaxing because youāre reclining on the yin side of your bodyāwhich is the front or abdomen side,ā she explains. āThis side is more vulnerable because it hosts our vital organs. When [that area] is protected by the floor, it helps ground us.ā
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Paired with props, frog (somehow) becomes even more luxe! Hereās how to try this pose out for yourself right nowāor in bed later.
How to move into half frog pose, the most relaxing of all yoga poses
To make this pose even better, place a pillow or a bolster underneath your torso, as well as another pillow beneath your bent knee. Try not to fall asleep (or, I mean, just pass out).
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- From childās pose, slide onto your stomach.
- Turn your gaze to the right, using your hands as a pillow.
- Slide your right knee up to your right hip so that itās lying at a 90-degree angle. (Make sure your ankle is in line with your knee.)
- Soften your whole body and rest for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Switch sides.
Ready for something a little more fiery? Try yoga teacher Valerie Verdierās core sequence:
If youāre just dipping your toe into yoga, try this beginner flow and bookmark the glorious āorigami stretch.āĀ
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Author Kells McPhillips | Well and Good
Selected by CWC