Balasana, Child's Pose, is a kneeling, forward-folded restorative asana in which the practitioner sits back on the heels with the torso folded over the thighs and the arms extended or resting alongside the body. Taught as a resting posture between more demanding asanas or as a calming pose in its own right, it belongs, alongside Makarasana (Crocodile Pose) and Shavasana (Corpse Pose), to the restorative category of the hatha yoga repertoire, postures whose purpose is conscious rest and nervous system settling rather than active exertion.
Facts
Position Profile
Key TextNot attested in the Gheranda Samhita or the Hatha Yoga Pradipika; the pose enters the named asana vocabulary through twentieth century hatha yoga manuals. 1 Attestation
Meaning in the Attesting SourceBala, child, plus asana, posture: a resting pose named for its folded, child-like shape rather than for any classical textual pedigree. 1 Connections
Related To
Used in Practice
Sources
1. Roots of Yoga
James Mallinson and Mark Singleton (trans. and eds.), Penguin Classics, 2017on restorative asanasView the Source A Sanskrit-English Dictionary
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