Sloth Pose (Viparita Karani or Legs Up the Wall)
This pose is incredibly regulating and refreshing, and kids think it's fun! Sloth pose can easily be done alongside your child, or even altogether as a family!
Sloths travel upside down high in the trees and move at an incredibly slow pace, around 4 metres/minute. They are often found hanging with their families together among the branches, eating, sleeping and giving birth way up high! Sloths only move when necessary, just as we do in sloth pose!
This pose is one of my favourites because it is accessible for many bodies. Also, the benefits to sloth are quite numerous!! It regulates blood pressure, eases fatigue, calms the nervous system, and reduces stress just to name a few. It's regulating effects on the body can help to positively support your immune system this winter, who can say no to that?!
But you may think: "My child will not stay in this pose longer than 15 seconds! Can they reap those benefits in such a short amount of time?" For toddlers and young children, this pose can be fun to mimic mom and dad in! Like all good routines, over time your young child will become increasingly familiar with sloth pose and it will become a natural practice for him or her. It's all about planting the seeds and watching them grow.
So, during this winter season, especially if you're feeling burnt out or exhausted from your holiday commitments, take a moment to turn upside down like a sloth with your family and hang among the branches of your living room!
Partner Pose: Do sloth pose beside your child. If you have a baby or toddler in the home, you can do sloth while your child sits on your low abdomen, or lies on your belly.
Family Pose: Line up with your legs up the wall like a sloth family, and when you are ready to come down move as slowly as you can! Can you move slower than a sloth?!
Merry Winter to All,
Megan