Vata Balancing Poses for Winter

The cold winds and a dry air of winter embody Vata, one of the Ayruvedic energies. To ground down and keep your doshas balanced this winter; you can use breath, diet and the Vata balancing poses below.

As you practice, try to hold these poses for at least five Ujaiyii breaths. You can also try closing your eyes once settled in a pose, to increase inward focus and soak in the benefits.

Triangle Pose

Find the Pose

• Straighten your front leg

• Point your front foot forward and keep the angle of your back foot

• Shift your hips back and reach your torso forward

• Draw your tailbone back and lengthen your spine

• Bring your front hand down and your back hand up

Benefits: Grounds Vata energy, creates opening through upper torso and stretches the sides of the body.

Tree Pose

Find the Pose

• Press the four corners of your left foot down and lift inner arch up

• Place the sole of your right foot onto your upper left thigh above your knee

• Draw your tailbone down

• Square and level your hips forward

• Bring your hands to heart center

• Draw your shoulder blades together and down your back

• Reach through the crown of your head and gaze forward

Benefits: Balancing and grounding, improves posture and balance, increases flexibility of ankle, knee and hip joints, and encourages focus.

Headstand (against the wall)

Find the Pose

• Bring opposite hand to opposite elbow and clasp hands at base of skull

• Use the wall to come into a supported Headstand

• Stack hips over shoulders and engage your core

• Keep your gaze forward and breathe

Benefits: Flushes fresh blood and nutrients, improves circulation and increases digestive fire.

Supta Badha Konasana

Find the Pose

• Bring the soles of your feet together

• Open your knees wide

• Draw your shoulder blades together and down your back

• Rest your arms on the mat and rotate palms up

• Draw your gaze up

Benefits: Relaxes lower back and hips, elongates inner thigh muscles, stimulates the heart and activates the parasympathetic nervous system.

Garland Pose

Find the Pose

• Bring your feet out wide to the edges of the mat with your heels in and your toes out

• Bring your hands to heart center as your elbows help gently push your knees out

• Sit up tall and spread your collarbones apart

Benefits: Strengthens metabolism.

Supported Fish (with a block)

Find the Pose

• Place a block between your shoulder blades and gently lay back

• Adjust block until it’s comfortably behind your upper torso, opening the heart

• Remain in this pose as long as possible and allow your breath to bring you into the pose

Benefits: Reduces fatigue and anxiety.

Legs Up the Wall (with a block)

Find the Pose

• Roll onto your back and extend your arms by your sides

• Place a block beneath the hips, straighten legs up the wall

• Close your eyes and maintain Ujaiyii breathing