Taking Child’s Pose

April 9th, 2014

Have you ever taken a yoga class? If so, then you are surely aware of one of the most basic poses – Child’s Pose. When taking this pose, you are folded over your knees, forehead of the ground and arms and hands either flat by your sides or stretched out in front of you.  I understand it to be a resting pose – used when you need to take a break from the current flow of the class.  You might be too tired, you might have noticed a pain somewhere in your body, you might simply not want to do the current pose that the rest of the class is doing. So you opt out and take Child’s Pose.

Child’s Pose is a legitimate asana – or body position. Every yoga teacher I know speaks of Child’s Pose as a fantastic option. They often will direct me and my other classmates to ‘take Child’s Pose.’ But they also point out that this position is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength, intuition, and self-care.  Knowing when you’ve pushed yourself enough, when you need a break and then deciding to take care of yourself is essential in yoga.  If you don’t, you risk a physical injury, which can them turn into an emotional injury in the order of “I should’ve known better.”

I think we can approach life in a similar fashion. When we’re feeling run down, pushed too much, or at risk of being hurt, maybe we can find ways of opting out of the current activity.  This takes some self-awareness – “What is going on with me right now?” and some self-knowledge – “If I keep at this I’m going to pay the price.  And I won’t like it.” and some self-love – “I care about myself enough to show some self-care.”

Child’s Pose can take different shapes for different people.  For one person, it might mean taking deep breaths and meditating.  Another might call a trusted friend to vent and get support. Someone else might go to an AA meeting.  You have to learn what works for you.

What if you need help learning this seemingly simple pose?  What if you never ask yourself about how you’re feeling? Well, much like a yoga instructor helps you gain knowledge about your body and it’s limits (among other things), a therapist or counselor can assist you in gaining self-awareness and developing your own personal “Child’s Pose.” You might feel self-conscious contacting a therapist, but just remember, taking this pose is a sign of strength, intuition, and self-care.

If you’re looking for a therapist or counselor in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC, contact Mike Giordano, LICSW at 202-460-6384 or Mike.Giordano.MSW@gmail.com.

Comments are closed.