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Benefits:
- This can be a very deep compression and stimulation of the sacral-lumbar arch; [1]
- The spine is toned;
- If the neck is dropped back, the thyroid is also stimulated.
Contra-indications:
- Bad back, tight sacrum;
- Any sharp pain here, you must come out!
- Avoid pressing the belly into the floor if the student is pregnant (just do the Seal, not the Spinx);
- Avoid if the student has a headache.
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Alternatives & Options:
- For a gentle Sphinx, rest on the ribs, sliding the elbows away to reduce compression in lower back;
- Could use bolsters under elbows, helping to elevate the chest and deepen the posture;
- Seal with straight, locked arms is the deepest pose; let the hands rotate outward a little. Student
can slide hands away to lessen the intensity;
- Some students may feel the highest amount of compression in the lower back occurs if hands are not
right under the shoulders, but slightly forward. This provides some pressure backward, into the lower back;
- Rather than have the arms in front, Paulie Zink likes to have the hands and arms straight out to the
side, which makes this look more like a seal;
- Bend the knees for more compression in the sacrum;
- Some students like to spread legs apart, to deepen the sensations in the lower back;
- Other students prefer the legs together, to release the sacrum or make the sensations more evenly
along the spine;
- Can place a bolster or blanket under pubic bone, to soften the pressure;
- Tightening the butt is okay! Sagging the shoulders is also okay;
- To arch the neck and stimulate the cervical spine, lengthen the neck, drop the head back, lift the chin,
and open the throat;
- Flexies can try these postures with the legs in lotus.
Meridians & Organs Affected:
- Affects the Urinary Bladder and Kidney lines as they run through the lower back and sacrum;
- Affects the Stomach and Spleen meridians along top of legs;
- Iyengar notes that this stimulates the kidneys and adrenals through compression.
Joints Affected :
- Lower spine and the neck (if dropped back).
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Hold for how long?
- One minute, then lower down, rest, and repeat several times or;
- Up to five minutes;
- Eventually up for twenty minutes!
Counter poses?
- Coming out, out, just lie on the stomach, which is still a gentle back bend. Students could slide
one bent knee up beside the chest to ease residual sensations;
- Cat's Breath: flow from the Upward Facing Cat to the Downward Facing Cat (aka Cat/Cow) but flow gently,
in time with the breath. Don't make these your deepest Cats ever;
- Child's Pose: move into it slowly. Some folks may need to rest their head on their palms.
Similar to?
Other Notes:
- Imagine the spine like a row of Christmas tree lights draping to the floor;
- If arms are straight, this pose is a deeper back bend than the Saddle; thus, this could be done after Saddle.
If the arms are bent (as in Sphinx), this is not as deep as Saddle, so it may be done first;
- The Seal is nice and safe for pregnant students;
- Great pose for watching television!
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1 -- Between the L2 and L3 is found the "Door of Life," where Jing energy is housed.
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