"Reclining Big Toe Pose (Supta Padangusthasana) is beneficial both as a warm-up leg stretch for beginners and a cool-down pose for more experienced students. It is a good pose to use after the practice of Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana) to relieve any tension in the neck or shoulders. Because this pose is such a strong stretch for the hamstring muscles, it teaches the physiology and psychology of stretching."
"Stretching also has a psychological component. It is symbolic of moving beyond one's present state, of expanding one's possibilities. In order to benefit from the stretch of Reclining Big Toe Pose, one must move at the speed of the body rather than the speed of the mind. One begins the pose slowly, allowing the body to adjust to the new position, and then moves further into the pose."
Reclining Big Toe Pose serves as both a warm-up for beginners and a cool-down for experienced practitioners, and it relieves neck and shoulder tension after Shoulderstand. The posture provides a strong hamstring stretch that teaches the physiology and psychology of stretching, affecting ligaments, tendons, and muscles to enhance circulation and maintain joint health while preventing injury. The pose also addresses hip stiffness. Effective stretching requires moving at the body's pace rather than the mind's, beginning slowly and advancing gradually, using the breath to stay present and allow the body to respond.
Read at Yoga Journal
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