Balance, stretching and restorative poses
Standing balances, hip openers, fish pose, shoulder stand and slow holds, plus two of my tip cards.
Fish pose with legs in lotus on the living room mat, chest lifted and arms resting.
A tip card on lying with legs up on a sofa, which I say helps reduce back pain.
My ten minute nervous system reset: a simple restorative pose held for 8 to 10 minutes.
Butterfly with weights on my knees at the gym, a gentle way to open the hips deeper.
Plough pose on the rug at home, feet over my head and arms long on the mat.
Standing big toe hold in black and white, one leg out to the side.
Standing on one leg with the other knee drawn up, a balance practised at home.
Plough variation on my terrace, one leg reaching up between the pillars.
A deep squat with hands in prayer on the terrace mat, legs wide and spine tall.
Shoulder stand in black and white, legs straight up over the living room carpet.
About Balance, Stretching and Restorative Poses
My nervous system reset card asks you to stay in one simple pose for 8 to 10 minutes. As I put it, "This isn't yoga fitness. This is nervous system hygiene."
The quieter side of practice
Not every class is about big poses. This page has the balances, stretches and restorative holds that make the rest possible: standing big toe hold, warrior three, low lunges, deep squats, bridge on a block, fish pose with lotus legs, plough and shoulder stand.
Hip openers with a twist
I sometimes add light weights to butterfly at the gym, which helps the knees settle closer to the floor for a deeper hip stretch. A stability ball jack knife adds core strength.
My tip cards
One card shows lying with your legs up on a sofa for a few minutes a day, which I say helps reduce back pain. Another walks you through a ten minute nervous system reset. These are general tips, and in a 1:1 class we choose poses for your own body.
More from Yoga Classes by Rishu
More services by Rishu