Restorative Yoga’s Supported Fish pose

The Restorative Yoga’s Supported Fish pose is an adaptation of the normal Fish pose of yoga. The Supported Fish pose is also known as the Salamba Matsyasana. This pose helps to nourish your hips, spine, shoulders and neck, among other benefits.

You start doing this pose from a supine position by lying down on a mat, on your back. Your arms are by your sides and legs straight down your hips. Lift your legs up by bending them from the knees. In this position, your legs look like an inverted ‘V’. Now take a couple of yoga blocks and place one block under your back. Place this block the long way, right between your shoulder blades. Rest your head on the mat, so that your back and spine are now arched.

In this position you have your chest stretched. This is also a heart and ribcage opener pose, as you are lifting yourself up from the sternum. To make this position more comfortable for you and reduce the strain on your neck, you may place another yoga block under your head.

While you are in this position, breathe consciously, slowly and deeply. Be aware of how deep you can receive your breath. This also helps to stimulate your thyroids and parathyroid’s, and helps to regulate and slow down the process of ageing.

Unless you suffer from any neck ailment, you may remove the yoga block under your head and rest your head on the mat. This also helps to improve the flow of blood towards your brain, as your head is below the level of your heart. This has benefits like improving eyesight, reducing hair loss, improving your memory, and sharpening your reflexes and sensory organs. Remain in this pose for between ten to fifteen breaths or as long as you are comfortable, and then exit this pose.

Sources:

Fish Pose

http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/786

Restorative Yoga Poses : Restorative Yoga Supported Fish Pose

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSRcIVXjFzM

iYogaLife: Supported Fish

http://www.iyogalife.com/yoga-cures-supported-fish/

Matsyasana (Fish Pose) For Cervical Spondylosis

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2010/02/22/matsyasana-fish-pose-for-cervical-spondylosis/