The Starburst pose of Zen yoga is an adaptation of the Corpse pose of conventional yoga. This a simple pose where you allow your spine to extend and lengthen. You start this pose by lying down on your back. Ensure that your spine is straight and is not curved to either your right or left.
Place your feet about a shoulder’s length apart from each other and do not engage the muscles of your legs and let your feet rest in a casual unsupported position. Move your arms away from your torso and allow your hands also to rest against the floor. This seemingly simple pose is both a relaxation pose, while it also nourishes your spine and the muscles of your back.
As you lie down in this position, stretch out your arms and legs away from you and imagine as if a force is pulling them away from you. As you do this, let the weight of your arms and legs sink into the floor and do not engage any muscles of your limbs.
Keep breathing slowly, deeply and consciously as you open your arms and legs outwards. You feel the spaces in your abdomen and chest opening out. Allow the breath to fill in these open spaces in your torso. The logic behind doing this relaxation exercise is to counter the strain that your torso is subject to during your normal standing, and walking postures.
Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTRXiNSOrFc
Zen Yoga Breathing for Back Stretches
http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4943842_zen-yoga-breathing-back-stretches.html
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