Bad Day Buster: Legs up the Wall Pose

 Viparita Karani AKA Legs up the Wall Pose

 Tired, Stressed, feeling blue? Put your feet up.

Viparita Karani or Legs up the Wall pose works miracles if you've had a bad day.

It alleviates nervous exhaustion, boosts confidence and strengthens the mind body connection. Perhaps the best advantage of all, is that you emerge from the posture feeling more refreshed than if you had taken a short nap.

By going upside down, we can reverse the effects of "monkey mind." In this world of mult-tasking, "monkey mind" or scattered thoughts is a state that most of us experience every day. 

Legs up the wall has several physical benefits as well:

• Encourages smooth breathing
• Soothes the nervous system
• Relieves headaches
• Relaxes the digestive system
• Reduces varicose veins and swollen feet
• Gently stretches the back of the legs
• Returns blood from the legs to the heart - improving circulation
• Supports the lymphatic system by removing waste and toxins

So what are you waiting for? All you need is a few minutes and a wall!

If will feel awkward the first couple of times you practice

• Sit with your right hip touching the wall
• Place your palms on the floor just behind your sits bones
• Bring your knees to your chest and swing your legs up onto the wall
• Make sure that your legs are making firm contact with the wall
• Keep your feet flexed – but relaxed
• Bring your arms above your head and relax them onto the floor in cactus pose
• If your forehead is lower than your chin - place a blanket underneath your head
• Breathe into this posture for 3 to 10 minutes
• If you start to feel pins and needles in your legs – simply bend your legs and press the souls of your feet together. This will help the blood circulate back into your legs
• When you are ready, hug your knees to your chest and roll over to the right side
• Using your arms - push your way up to a seated position
• Sit quietly for a few minutes.  Notice how you feel. 

WARNING:  DO NOT DO LEGS UP THE WALL POSE IF YOU HAVE SERIOUS BACK, NECK OR EYE PROBLEMS.