Urdhva Prasarita Padasana – Reverse Process

Urdhva Prasarita Padasana is one of my favorite gentle yoga postures, mainly because it feels so good. Connecting breath with the gentle movement of extending the legs up towards the sky and extending the arms up and over head mimics the feeling of “skywalking.” The translation of Urdhva Prasarita Padasana is reversing the process – it indicates that the process and effects of gravity are reversed.

Urdhva Prasarita Padasana aids circulation in the legs, arms and hips by reversing the flow of blood that stagnates while sitting and standing up-right. Energetically, it calms and rejuvenates the nervous system.

At the level of the heart (not the blood pump – but the seat of devotion, bliss, intimacy and love) Urdhva Prasarita Padasana invites us to reverse the process of stagnation. Reverse the process of holding on to the stale sentiments that clog the heart from receiving and giving the expansive healing peace and unconditional love of the Divine.