Venus Rising

Yoga for LivingIssue: Sagittarius 07

Create Space in Your Lungs and Throat with Fish and Rabbit Pose

RABBIT POSE / SASANGASANA

Begin kneeling with your knees together and your hips on your heels. Reach for your heels with your hands and tuck your chin deeply into your chest. Begin to round forward, reaching your forehead as close to your knees as you can. Keeping this attraction between chin and chest and forehead to knees, bring your head to the floor. Get a firm hold of your heels and begin to press your hips away from your heels, rounding your back. Work to straighten your arms as you continue to pull with your hands, and at the same time, reach your hips away from your hands. It is this tension between your hands pulling and your hips reaching away from your heels that creates the pose. The pull of the hands on the heels will also prevent you from resting too much weight on your head. The breath may become a little shallower. Try to stay with it and keep your breath flowing as best you can. After five breaths, begin to release the pose by first bringing your hips back to your heels. Relax the grip of your hands, and roll up slowly keeping your head heavy as you rise. Allow your head to lift last. Kneel quietly for a few breaths and feel the effects.

Avoid injury! When practicing yoga, listen to your body and take responsibility for your safety. Always move gently into poses, and do not push too hard.