Mrigasana (deer pose)

Mrigasana (deer pose)

To do this pose:

Come to a seated butterfly position on your mat with the soles of your feet together. Swing one leg out and behind you, keeping the knee bent. Your back knee should line up with the sole of your front foot. Take your time to adjust yourself, you should feel a light stretch in your hips and low back. You can stay upright with your hands rested on either side of you, or you can bend forward and rest your elbows on the floor. Hold here and breathe. 

How this pose is especially beneficial for nurses: 

• It opens all sides of the hips. In this pose, your front hip is externally rotated while your back hip is internally rotated. This is one of the few poses that can really open up all sides of your hips. Opening up all sides of the hips helps you release some of those pent up emotions you’ve been holding throughout the day as well! 
• If gently massages your GI tract, stimulating digestion and release of toxins. So, do this pose to release all mental and physical toxins after a long shift.