bolsters – OhBoob!

Our final session! I’m sad!

The first pose was supported wide-legged forward fold. It took a few minutes to get the blocks and bricks to the right height under my head but once they were in position, this pose felt really comfortable. Janice ensured that my back was slightly arched which made my back feel open and lengthened. I tried a few positions with my arms and found that resting them on the bottom of my calves was the best option as I was able to sink down into the pose more. I have really enjoyed the supporting forward fold positions as they have a soothing and gentle effect on my back which makes it feel less tight.

For our second pose, we did supported boat pose using an upturned chair. Having a bolster resting against the chair meant that I could literally sink my back down into it. It was absolutely gorgeous and so relaxing. I enjoyed the fact that my legs were elevated and supported and the strap around my legs meant that I was able to really ‘let go’ and sink into the pose. I was in this pose for quite a while and as it was so restful, I nodded off a few times. I think I even fell asleep at one point.

After the supported boat pose, we did a mild inversion – legs up the wall pose. As with the first pose, it took a few minutes to get everything ‘just right’. Getting the distance from the wall and my arms in the right position were the main areas where we had to focus. I had a relatively flat bolster under my back which meant that it was very slightly stretched although I couldn’t feel it. Janice did ask if I would prefer a blanket, but my back is generally quite open, so the bolster was more than comfortable. I like inversions and this pose was no different despite it being supported against the wall. Being in this position also really relaxed my mind.

For relaxation, we did a side-lying savasana. This was slightly different to the one that we had done in a previous week because the props we used were in slightly different positions. As I now have more movement in my arm, it was able to drape and relax more. I also had a heavier blanket between my lower legs which seemed to provide an additional sense of ‘security and whilst I did not fall asleep in this pose (I think I’d had my ‘fix’ in the supported boat pose), I was totally relaxed and able to clear my mind.

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Session 1 – click here
Session 2 – click here
Session 3 – click here
Session 4 – click here
Session 5 – click here
Session 6 – you’re already here
My Final Thoughts – click here

I had had a really busy Thursday and had spent a lot of time sitting down either at work (9 hours); in a car (2½ hours); and at a function in the evening (9½ hours). As I had not been moving around, my back felt particularly tight. I was therefore so ready for this session.

Today’s session was a re-cap on some previous poses but with some modifications and variations. We started off with supported child’s pose. This was slightly different to what we had done in a previous session because I was supported by an elevated bolster and my arms were resting on some blankets. As my back was tight, this was therefore a much more welcoming pose than the one in week 1 because there was less of a ‘stretch’. I felt totally supported and restful in this pose and was able to sink down into the props. I felt a continuing softening during the pose as my whole body felt supported (including my arms). Having the higher support under my arms with the blankets seemed to take this pose to another level. I also had two blankets on my lower back which also contributed to the melting down experience. This was a lovely pose to start with as the stiffness of my back felt as though it was already starting to melt away.

The second pose was the supported forward fold pose. This has become one of my favourite poses. This time though, we played around with my arms – having them hang down the chair legs as opposed to resting on the chair seat. I preferred this way as I felt like I was literally just ‘draping’ over the chair. We also played around with the height of the blankets on the chair and found that a heavier blanket more heavily folded allowed me to sink further in the pose. There was a nice and gentle lengthening of my back which felt really good and just what I needed after the previous day.

We also did a variation on the supported back bend that we had done in an earlier session. This time, I had three blankets rolled up underneath me as opposed to one folded flat. I liked the sensation of the three rolled blankets – there was a gentle arching in my back which felt as though the blankets had been moulded especially for my back. My chest felt lovely and open, my shoulders, arms and back were completely rested. It was so relaxing that I could have been ‘floating’. My hands were also supported and covered by blankets which just added to the sense of release. I felt so relaxed in this pose that I felt my head falling to the side on a couple of occasions…. any longer and I would probably have nodded off.

Savasana involved a lot of props….. and I did nod off! I loved the sensation of the blanket surrounding my head and the blankets cushioning and ‘protecting’ me at my sides. Even though I was at home and therefore in a safe and familiar environment, this pose made me feel totally ‘safe’. The blanket on my tummy and my ankles resting on the rolled-up blanket further added to the ‘deliciousness’ of this pose. It’s no wonder that I nodded off!

I particularly enjoyed this session not only because of the way my back was feeling but also because today’s poses were particularly nourishing and relaxing. I find it remarkable that even after 1 or 2 poses, I don’t ‘notice’ the tightness in my back as much. After today’s session, I also felt a lovely sense of calm and peace – I felt as though I could have stayed in savasana forever.

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Session 1 – click here
Session 2 – click here
Session 3 – click here
Session 4 – click here
Session 5 – you’re already here
Session 6 – click here
My Final Thoughts – click here