child's pose to calm

To begin, don comfy clothing, pull out your yoga mat, and come onto your hands and knees to table pose. Lower your hips to your heels to release your torso over your thighs. Extend your arms out in front of you (as pictured) or along the side of your body with your hands facing up. If your hips don’t reach your heels, place a blanket or pillow under your hips to facilitate the connection to your heels. If your torso doesn’t reach your thighs, place a blanket or pillow under your torso for support. If your head doesn’t rest comfortably on your mat, place a pillow under your head. Stay here 30 seconds to five minutes.

For a variation, open your knees the width of your yoga mat and release your belly in between your thighs. This turns child’s pose into a yummy hip opener that is perfect for runners, desk-bound workers, and everyone in between.

This cooling pose calms your mind, helps reduce headache and fatigue, and stretches your hips and ankles.