How to Do Child's Pose (Balasana) in Yoga

Proper Form, Variations, and Common Mistakes

By

Ann Pizer, RYT

Updated on March 23, 2023

Reviewed by

Sara Clark

Targets: Resting, gentle stretch

Equipment Needed: Yoga mat (optional)

Level: Beginner

Child's Pose (Balasana) is yoga's most important resting posture and it is a nice way to gently stretch various parts of your body. It's a chance to stop what you are doing, reassess your position, reconnect with your breath, and prepare yourself to move forward. In class, the teacher may offer the opportunity to rest in child's pose after a fast-paced vinyasa sequence, a long hold in a pose like Downward Facing Dog or Plank, or an attempt at a challenging inversion. It is a counter pose for Cobra and other back extensions.

How To Do Child's Pose

Come to your hands and knees on the yoga mat.
Spread your knees as wide as your mat, keeping the tops of your feet on the floor with the big toes touching.
Rest your belly between your thighs and root your forehead to the floor. Relax the shoulders, jaw, and eyes. If it is not comfortable to place the forehead on the floor, rest it on a block or two stacked fists. There is an energy point at the center of the forehead in between the eyebrows that stimulates the vagus nerve and supports a "rest and digest" response. Finding a comfortable place for the forehead is key to gaining this soothing benefit.
Stretch your arms in front of you with the palms toward the floor or bring your arms back alongside your thighs with the palms facing upwards. You can also stretch the arms forward with palms facing up for a shoulder release or try bending the elbows so that the palms touch and rest the thumbs at the back of the neck. In this position inch the elbows forward.
Stay as long as you like, eventually reconnecting with the steady inhales and exhales of your breath.

Benefits of Child's Pose

Child's Pose is a gentle stretch for the shoulders, back, hips, thighs, neck, and ankles. It can help relieve back pain.

Child's pose can promote deep breathing, mindfulness, and relaxation. Evidence has shown that a breathing practice can lower blood pressure and improve lung function and respiratory fitness.

Learning to use this pose wisely is the part of your developing practice where you listen to your body's inner voice and do what it tells you. Your body will tell you when to rest. It might need different things on different days. Keeping your ear finely tuned to the messages your body is sending you and respectfully responding to them is the greater lesson that child's pose has to offer. You will come to know when to use Child's Pose during your yoga practice.

Other Variations of Child's Pose

You can choose to keep the knees together instead of separating them if that is more comfortable for you. Likewise, you can curl the toes under if it is painful to have the feet flat, or place a rolled towel under your shins to take the stress off of your ankles.

You can place a yoga blanket or a towel underneath the knees for padding and added support.

For a restorative variation, place a bolster or pillow under your stomach or chest and assume the pose for up to 10 minutes.

Up for a Challenge?

You can get a deeper stretch of hips by spreading your knees wider.

Common Mistakes

Balasana is one of the more restful yoga poses, but that does not mean form doesn't matter. It's very important to make sure your forehead is resting on the ground. If you're still working toward the flexibility to keep your forehead to the ground and the sit bones resting on your heels, simply put a folded blanket under your buttocks to bridge the gap.

Because your stomach can be compressed somewhat in this position, it's better to do this pose at least an hour after eating. It can be easy to forget to breathe fully into your lungs during child's pose. Maintain focus on the breath.

Your neck should stay in neutral position. If you find you are bending your neck, use a pillow, yoga block, or another prop to keep pressure off your neck.

Safety and Precautions

Avoid Child's Pose if you have a knee injury. If you are pregnant, spread your legs wider and don't press your stomach onto your thighs. If you have a shoulder injury, keeping your arms by your side will provide the most support.

If you feel any pain, ease out of the pose.

Try It Out

Incorporate this move and similar ones into one of these popular workouts:

5 Sources

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