Upavistha Konasana – Seated Wide Angle Forward Bend

September Pose of the Month

Upavistha (Seated) Kona (Angle) Asana (Pose)

Level: 1

September brings a more calming pose than August. It was requested that I do a seated or lying down pose for September (you know who you are …. KAthy!) But I do aim to please and I think its a perfectly reasonable request. Upavistha Konasana like most forward bends are calming and grounding which is exactly what is needed for Back to School Season.

Upavistha Konasana helps to prepare the body for other seated forward bends and twists and are very often done towards the end of a vinyasa class. It is also beneficial to do it at the beginning of class as it helps to prepare for all the wide legged standing poses.

Most asanas require a balance between activation and relaxation and this is the perfect pose to begin to understand that principle. Your legs need to be actively engaged rooting down towards the earth, stretching adductors (inner thighs) and hamstrings, while at the same time breathing into all the stuck, tight areas of your body, this relaxing and surrendering to your breath allows your mind and brain to soften. Therefore practicing Upavistha Konasana on a regular basis can help to keep your spine and hamstrings supple and your mind serene and peaceful.

ENERGETIC AND EMOTIONAL BENEFITS

  • Calms the mind

  • Increases stamina and strength of the entire body

  • Can reduce mental stress

  • Can open you up to new possibilities

 

PHYSICAL BENEFITS

  • Stretches and strengthens all of the legs

  • Helps strengthen and tone the abdominal organs

  • Increases flexibility and strength of the spine

  • Releases the groin and stretches the adductor muscles

  • Stimulates the kidneys which helps to improve the body’s ability to remove toxins

  • Improves digestion and metabolism

 

THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS

  • Can provide relief from anxiety and MILD depression

  • Good if you are feeling fatigued

  • Sciatica

  • Can be helpful for arthritic pain

CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS

  • Not recommended if you have a current groin or hamstring tear

  • Injury in the lower back or herniated disc ( in the case of a herniated disc avoid folding forward instead stay upright)

 

HINTS AND TIPS

  • .Sit on a blanket or low block if you hamstrings or lower back prevent you from sitting tall in the spine

  • Be patient, try not to compromise your posture or technique just to get closer to the floor

  • Keep front of the spine long

  • Fold forward from the hip crease not the lower back

  • Bend knees slightly if needed esp if you feel an intense pull on the inner knees, in that case back of a little

  • Keep the legs strong and engaged so the back can find some softness

  • It can be nice to close your eyes to encourage the brain to switch off

#SeptemberPoseoftheMonth #UpavisthaKonasanaSeatedWideAnglePose #StressRelief #Seatedforwardfold #Hamstringflexibilty

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