How to do Butterfly Pose

Welcome back our monthly Kids Love Yoga (#kidsloveyoga) pose challenge.

Each month, we feature a new yoga pose you can practice with your children. Check out the collection of pictures below, where children demonstrate the focus pose. This month’s challenge is Butterfly Pose.

Cobbler’s Pose, which is more commonly referred to as Butterfly Pose, has been one of my daughter’s favorites since before she could speak. She loved to find butterflies in the garden, point to them, and then sit down in Butterfly Pose while flapping her “wings.” It was her way of communicating before she had the words to express herself.

Join us for this month’s pose: Butterfly Pose

Also known as: Cobbler’s Pose or Bound Angle Pose

Sanskrit name: Baddha Konasana

Benefits:

Restores and calms your mind.
Relieves stress.
Helps release tension in your lower back.
Stretches the hips, groin, and inner thighs.
Aids in releasing sciatica pain.
Helps to ease menstrual and prenatal discomfort.

You could pretend to be a butterfly, book, basket, or oyster.

Description:

Come to sitting in an L shape in Staff Pose, with your spine straight and your legs out in front of you. Then bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet together, allowing your knees to fall out to either side. From here, you can wrap your hands around your ankles and gently drop your knees towards the ground (don’t force them, though) to open up your hips and groin. Open your chest and sit up tall.

Stay here or take in a deep inhale, and then on an exhale, slowly lean forwards, keeping your spine straight. Go as far as feels comfortable, ensuring the integrity of your spine.

Stay in the pose for a few breaths or a few minutes, depending on the age and needs of your child. To come out of the pose, bring your knees together then stretch them out in front of you in Staff Pose.

Modifications:

If you have tightness in your hips, knees, or groin, simply place blocks under your knees and/or sit on a blanket or bolster.
For a deeper restorative posture, take your feet farther away from your body, slowly drop your head while bending forward with a rounded spine. Completely relax your whole body and bring your attention to your deep inhale and exhale. Place stacked blocks under your forehead for further support.
Another restorative version of Cobbler’s Pose is Reclined Cobbler’s Pose. Come to lying on your back, bend your knees, bring your soles together, and allow your knees to fall out to either side. Blocks under your knees are a wonderful addition to this pose.

Pictures of children in Butterfly Pose:

Kids Yoga Stories	The European Mama
Adalinc to Life	iStock image
Kirsten P.	Shanti Generation
Janice L.	Yoga in My School
Koru Power Kids Yoga	Koru Power Kids Yoga