Inner Balance and Stability with Viparita Kirani

Hello Women, 

I hope this week finds you well and feeling steady in your inner and outer worlds. As I write at the end of this Autumn Equinox day, the light is slowly fading. A very brief interlude of watery sunshine is creeping quietly from behind the low grey cloud, that has graced our skies for most of the day here in Western Canada. Night will soon fall and the perfect equilibrium of light and dark is displayed to us during this 24 hours. A reflection perhaps of the balance we seek, both within ourselves and the world around us. Equinox is all about balance: a concept for which we constantly strife. Yet it only truly occurs in nature twice in a year, so maybe Mother Earth is revealing to us that it’s actually okay to feel less balance in our day to day lives?

With this in mind, I’ve been thinking this week about a single yoga pose that can assist in bringing a little more stability and balance on the daily, in a world that is perhaps, slightly off kilter. The pose is Viparita Kirani, also known as Legs up the Wall. A well known pose, but also a hidden gem in its ability to be a self contained, self care practice. So, on this day of complete balance, I thought I would delve a little deeper into this simple, but mighty yoga asana. 

Viparita Kirani is a Sanskrit name, which translates to Inverted Lake. The pose is a mild inversion, which promotes calm and soothes the nervous system. When the hips are slightly elevated and the legs are placed against the wall, the abdomen softens and becomes quiet and still, like the serene waters of a clear and tranquil lake. When the abdomen, the centre of the body, finds this quietness, the body and mind become still and the power of Viparita Kirani becomes apparent. 

As an all round self care practice, this pose also aids the return of blood from the feet and legs to the heart, and the return of lymph fluid from the entire body. It stabilizes blood pressure, reduces fatigue, stimulates the abdominal organs, opens the chest and lungs, is helpful in relieving the symptoms of anxiety and depression and promotes a quietening of the brain. When practiced daily, Viparita Kirani can move us from the busyness of life to a quiet, tranquil place: we enter another world. More than any other restorative pose, this asana has the ability to transform, stabilize and bring us towards inner balance. 

So, how to practice this self care, this pose of power and transformation? Place two yoga block horizontally at the wall, then place a bolster, rolled blanket or cushion horizontally against them. If you don’t have yoga blocks, leave a small gap between the bolster and the wall. Sit sideways on the bolster or blankets, with one hip touching the wall and place your hands onto the floor behind you. Now, pivot your pelvis and swing your legs up the wall. Allow your torso to gently curve over the bolster and the tops of your shoulders to rest on the floor. Move in a little so that the back of your thighs become closer to the wall and rest your arms out to the sides. Extend the legs well, reaching into the heels and allow the abdomen to become soft. Relax and allow this pose to work it’s magic! Stay for as long as you like. Even 3 - 5 minutes will be highly beneficial to your entire system. To come out, bend your knees, press your feet against the wall and slide backwards over your bolster. You can cross your legs on the support and stay here for a few more minutes. Then turn onto your side and slowly sit up. Ensure that you come out of the pose slowly and gently, holding onto the stillness you have cultivated. 

Viparita Karani is also a beautiful pose to practice outside in nature, using a tree for support. Adopt a gentle gaze in the pose and watch the branches of the tree sway and listen to the leaves rustle in the breeze. In nature, the pose is taken to a whole new level of tranquility. I highly recommend it, if the temperature is warm enough! 

Caution - This pose is an inversion, so it should not be practiced during menstruation. 

Thank you so much for taking this Sacred Pause with me on this Autumn Equinox evening. My hope is that the balance we experience on this day of equilibrium, can be found throughout the year by entering the transformative world of Viparita Kirani. 

Until next time...