Halasana (plow pose)

Halasana (plow pose)

To do this pose:

Come to lie on your back on your mat. Straighten both of your legs as much as you can up, pointing your feet to the ceiling and start to let them fall over your head. You can help your low back up off the floor with your hands. You can use props like a blanket rolled under your neck to help prevent any stress on it (Stop doing the pose if you feel pain and reset with a blanket folded under your shoulders so your head is hanging off it). Your feet can come to the floor or hover above it and your knees can be straight or bent, whatever feels best for your body. You can also keep your hands supporting your low back or relax them down by your sides. Hold and breathe into your neck and back and let yourself go. 

How this pose is especially beneficial for nurses: 

• It simulates an inversion without trying for a more advanced balancing pose by placing your heart above your head. Inversions have been shown to boost circulation, improve blood pressure, and help to better manage chronic health issues like diabetes! 
• It stretches, strengthens, and tones your back muscles! When you’re feeling sore, frequently stretching out your low back muscles will help prevent atrophy or build up of lactic acid, in the long term, preventing further injury. Strengthening your back also helps prevent those injuries when you’re at work! 
• It improves circulation to all parts of your body! This helps to stimulate digestion as well as release headaches and pain in other parts of your body by promoting oxygenated blood to flow.