Former yoga teacher in Wellington New Zealand
Legs up the wall (viparita karani) is often best known for the benefit of triggering the parasympathetic nervous system, sometimes called the rest and digest response. In these variations you can add a range of different stretches for the legs and hips, while also gaining the stress-relieving benefits of the pose.
It’s official, it’s freakishly hot this summer and now impossible to purchase a fan in Aotearoa New Zealand. Luckily yoga has some tools for keeping cool. My go to favourite is legs up the wall. It’s just like the name
Legs up the wall is an restorative yoga pose that can help trigger the parasympathetic nervous system.
It’s February. That means in Wellington, it’s hot and everyone spends as much time outside as they can soak up the sun. By the time Sunday rolls around, I’m exhausted from the heat and too many great events outside. So
Viparita Karani, or legs up the wall, is an excellent pose for recovery whether it’s the end of a run or the end of a stressful week. One of the key benefits is that it redirects the blood flood and helps stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest response).