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1. Head wrap
Before you begin, wrap your forehead
to relieve tension in the head. Take a wide ace bandage
(about 4 inches) and wrap it snugly around the head, tucking
the free end in. You can also wrap it over the eyes, taking
care not to wrap the eyes too tightly. The bandage will
comfort your congested sinuses while you do the poses
that follow.
2. Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana)
Brings energy to the head and respiratory area; helps
clear the sinuses.
Stand with your feet hip-width apart
and rest your forearms on a chair seat. You can also place
a blanket on the chair seat for extra padding. Hold two
to five minutes.
3. Supported Bridge Pose (Salamba Setu Bandhasana)
Opens up the chest and increases circulation to the upper
torso.
Align two bolsters or two to four blankets
on the floor running the entire length of your body (the
height of the support can vary from 6 to 12 inches). Sit
on the middle of the support and lie back. Slide towards
your head until your shoulders lightly touch the floor.
Open your arms out to the sides, palms turned up. Rest
with your legs stretched out on the bolster or with your
knees bent and your feet on the floor. Relax for a minimum
of five minutes.
4. Legs Up the Wall Pose (Viparita Karani)
Brings energy to the groin and opens the chest area to
facilitate breathing.
With the back of the pelvis on a bolster
placed 4 to 6 inches from the wall, swing the legs up
the wall. Drop your sitting bones into the space between
the blanket and the wall and open your arms out to the
sides. If your hamstrings feel tight, try turning the
legs slightly in, or move the bolster further away from
the wall. Hold for a minimum of five minutes.
5. Supported Bound Angle Pose (Salamba Baddha Konasana)
Opens the chest, abdomen, and groins; relaxes the nervous
system.
Sit on the floor, knees bent towards
the chest. Bring the soles of your feet together and let
your knees open towards the floor. Support the outer thighs
with folded blankets at a comfortable height. You can
also place sandbags on each inner thigh to deepen relaxation.
Release the arms out to the sides and let go of any tension.
Relax in the pose for a minimum of five minutes.
6. Reclining Twist (Modified Jathara
Parivartanasana)
Releases physical and stress-based tension.
Lie on your back and with an exhalation
bend your knees and draw your thighs to your torso. Shift
your pelvis slightly to the left and, with another exhalation,
swing your legs to the right and down to the floor (if
they don't rest comfortably on the floor, support them
on a bolster or folded blanket). Turn your upper torso
to the left. Rest your right hand on the outer left knee
and stretch your left arm to the side, in line with your
shoulders. Look straight up or close your eyes. Relax
for three minutes. Repeat on the other side.
7. Widespread Forward Bend (Upavistha Konasana)
Quiets the internal organs; relaxes the mind.
Sit on the floor with your sitting
bones on the edge of a folded blanket. Straighten your
legs out in front of you and then separate them as far
as you comfortably can. Rest your upper torso on a bolster
or (if you're more stiff) a chair seat. If you are using
a chair, you can fold your forearms on the seat for more
height and padding. Hold the pose for three to five minutes.
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