This yoga pose opens the hips, inner thighs and stretches the whole back of the body.
Forward folds compress/massage the abdominal organs, which can be good for assisting digestion.
On a subtle level, forward folds are a great way to facilitate a sense of quiet, calm and relaxation and can therefore lower blood pressure, help fatigue and relieve tension headaches.
How to
Placing both sit bones evenly on the floor, cross the legs at the shins. If your knees are higher than your hips, prop yourself up by sitting on a few pillows. Inhale and lengthen through the spine and as you exhale, walk your hands out front of you, folding your body over your legs.
Once you have found your comfortable position, close the eyes and take slow, conscious breaths in and out through the nose, letting go a bit more with every exhale.
Photo credit: Ren Pidgeon, Model: Phoebe Waters
