Strengthen your core and steady your mind with Boat Pose – a balancing yoga posture that helps you build resilience, both on the mat and through life’s shifting currents.
The waves of life rise and fall – sometimes choppy and unpredictable, at other times calmly undulating. Boat Pose, or Navasana in Sanskrit, is a yoga posture for enhancing core strength that will help you to adapt to changing tides. Navasana strengthens your back and abdomen, and increases mental resilience and confidence – for a balanced body and mind.
How to practise Boat Pose & build strength through life’s waves
- Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you and your torso upright and strong. Press your hands to the floor, a little behind your hips with your fingers pointing towards your feet. Sit tall and lean back. Take a few breaths here as you find your point of balance on your sitting bones.
- On an exhale, bend your knees and lift your feet off the floor. Engaging your core, point your legs and feet upwards towards the sky at an angle that feels comfortable for you.
- Keeping your arms straight, raise them to stretch out parallel to the floor, holding them on the outside of your legs with your fingers pointing forwards. Take a few breaths, holding the pose for a few seconds – only as long as you are comfortable to do so.
- On an exhale, lower your legs to the floor and then, inhale and sit back upright. Observe the strength within your body and how you are feeling.
As with all physical activities, please do not attempt if you have any medical or physical conditions that may be aggravated. If in doubt, consult your GP.
This article was originally published under the title Smooth Sailing in Issue 38 – The Humble Art of Hope. You can purchase previous issues and enjoy more enchanting content here.
