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InversionRelaxation

Viparita Karani, Legs Up the Wall

By 05/07/2017February 17th, 2021No Comments

How to do Viparita Karani or Legs Up the Wall Pose (easy inversion) – restorative yoga inversion.

Yoga classes in Milton Keynes

Viparita Karani – Legs Up The Wall Pose is a passive pose that relieves congestion in the legs and is restorative for the entire nervous system. Many inversions are not beginner’s poses but this pose can be safely practiced by those new to yoga.
1. Sit with your right hip and shoulder touching a wall and have your knees bent and heels close to your buttocks.
2. Keep the hip near the wall as you lean back on your hands. Take your legs up the wall as you lower onto your elbows. Then lay on your back on the floor and check your body is symmetrical.

Viparita-Karani-Legs-Up-the-Wall-1alt

3. With the buttocks close to the wall and legs vertical, choose your arm position.

3. With the buttocks close to the wall and legs vertical, choose your arm position. Take your palms to the abdomen or your arms out to the side. Alternatively, take the arms overhead, elbows softly bent. If you wish, tie a soft belt around the mid thighs so the legs are passively held together. Allow the shoulders to soften and relax into the floor. Keep the back of the neck long. Tune into the rhythm of your breath.
Viparita Karani – Legs Up the Wall Pose

3. Supported Viparita Karani variation with bolster or folded blanket for comfort.

4. Allow the tongue to rest on the floor of the mouth and the eyeballs to sink toward the base of the skull. Stay here for up to 10 minutes (slowly working up to 20 minutes over time), breathing deeply through the whole body.
Viparita-Karani-Legs-Up-the-Wall-variation-A

5A. Viparita Karani variation with soles of the feet together.

 
5. To vary this pose, bring the soles of the feet together and slide the heels down the wall, so the outer edges of the feet are against the wall and knees wide apart [A]. Alternatively, you can let the legs fall out to a wide ‘V’ shape to stretch the inner thighs [B].
Viparita-Karani-Legs-Up-the-Wall-variation-B

5B. Viparita Karani – Legs out to a wide in ‘V’ shape.

 

TIPS

Gaze: Close the eyes and focus on releasing with the breath.
Counter Poses: Any standing posture.
Lighten:

  • Bend your knees a little if it is difficult to bring your buttocks against the wall.
  • Bend the knees down to the chest if your feet get numb.

Effect: Restorative, calming.

CAUTION

Inversions should not be practised by anyone who is suffering from high blood pressure or has eye problems, such as detached retina or glaucoma. They should be avoided by women during menstruation. In the case of previous neck injuries, heart problems, or pregnancy, the advice of an experienced teacher should be sought. Most inversions are not beginner’s poses and it is strongly recommended that the postures are learned from an experienced teacher.