Malasana (yogic squat)

Malasana (yogic squat)

To do this pose:

Come into a standing forward fold position. Pivot your feet out wider than hip-width apart, toes pointed out at a 45 degree angle. Start to bend your knees and sink your hips down between your feet. If you feel pressure on your knees, rest your arms on your knees in a squat position up higher. If you can, come all the way down and bring your hands into prayer, pushing your elbows into your knees. Reach your tailbone down to the earth, opening up your back and breath.

How this pose is especially beneficial for nurses: 

• It opens the hips. Not only is the job of a nurse hard on you physically, it is emotionally as well. Stress and tension is held in the hips a lot so opening them up can help release these feelings. This pose also helps to open up your low back and improve your posture after hunching over all day. Do this pose when you’ve had a challenging day emotionally or physically, or when you feel like your back is tight. 
•  It fires up the metabolism and stimulates digestion. This pose is seen as a detoxifying pose because it stimulates your digestive system. The more this system is working, the more you digest and rid your body of waste. Sometimes nursing shifts can be stressful and you only have time to shove a piece of pizza a patient’s family member brought you in your mouth, not to eat your healthy pre- prepared meal. Do this pose after one of those shifts and help your body rid itself of those physical toxins as well as emotional. 
• It improves flexibility of the ankles and knees. Being in a more active job like nursing, you’re more at risk for injuries especially in your legs. Flexibility in your joints helps strengthen them and prevent these injuries. Do this pose frequently especially when you’re feeling the joint pain!