Poses

Head-to-Knee Pose

Janu Sirsasana

Forward fold · beginner

Glossary: Janu Sirsasana

How to

  1. Begin seated on the floor with legs extended straight in front of you, sitting on a folded blanket if needed for comfort.
  2. Bend your right knee and draw the right sole to the inner left thigh, allowing the right knee to relax toward the floor.
  3. Inhale and lengthen through the spine, sitting tall and grounding both sitting bones evenly.
  4. As you exhale, hinge at the hips to fold forward over the extended left leg, keeping the spine long and the heart reaching toward the toes.
  5. Place your hands on either side of the left leg, on the floor or on the shin, wherever they comfortably reach.
  6. Relax your shoulders away from your ears, and keep your gaze soft, directed toward your left foot.
  7. Breathe deeply, maintaining length in the spine on each inhale and softening into the stretch on each exhale.
  8. To exit, inhale to lift the torso back up to a seated position, then extend the right leg and repeat on the other side.

Benefits

Watch on yoga.org