Take a Shot at Anxiety with the Bow

I can be one anxious person.  Doesn’t always matter what the topic is, before I know it, I am internally tied-up in knots. But I do have a secret weapon to fight off the stress–the Bow.

Well, the Archer’s Bow, actually.  Appropriately named, because when you do it correctly, your body will look like an archer’s bow. 

Here’s how it goes:

-Lie on your belly with your arms alongside your torso, palms facing up

-Slowly exhale and bend your knees, bringing your heels as close as you can to your buttocks

-Take your hands and grasp your ankles

-Inhale and lift your heels away from your buttocks, while at the same time lifting your thighs away from the floor.  You’ll basically be pulling your torso and your head away from the floor

-Push your tailbone toward the floor in the same motion, but try not to clench your back muscles.  While you continue to lift your heels and thighs higher, press your shoulder blades against your back

-Draw the tops of your shoulders away from your ears as you look forward

-Hold the pose up to 30 seconds and exhale slowly

This is such a wonderful stretch for your back and abdomen.  It releases tension and stress like you wouldn’t believe!  Give it a try. let me know if you have any questions :-)

Peace.