Child’s Pose is this Wildchild’s Imbalance

It’s often known as one of the most comfortable and restorative poses in yoga, however for me it’s always been tough. I’m used to pushing my body within its reasonable limits, but the child’s pose represents a different type of limit. It teaches me things about myself. I can register the imbalances within my body as a result. It can easily be considered a resting pose, but I feel anything but restful. It can be regenerative, but for me I’d almost rather do a plank for 5 minutes.

Why is this? When I was 13 years old, I tore my ACL in my right knee and have all the fun scars to prove it. It was a freak accident during gymnastics practice. Doing a back –layout on floor I started to over -rotate and twist causing my knee to pop. Since then, my knee has been at about 80-90% of what it was and slowly degenerating over the years. Since then, I’ve had 2 corrective surgeries. But please don’t feel bad for this knee! This knee has run 2 marathons and competed in 2 junior Olympics for Triple Jump. It’s had a great career and wants more every day. This knee could run 5 more marathons if it wanted to, but this knee does not like Child’s pose. Without hyperextension of the knee and complete bending range of motion , it makes it nearly impossible to sit on my heels. I feel tightness in my hips and in the back of my knee and sometimes even lower back. It can often be frustrating because I’ll be having such a great class and then Child’s pose….argh!!

As I dive further into yoga, I recognize and register these minor imbalances I have throughout each practice and even when I’m not practicing yoga. I continue to acknowledge and challenge myself every day to correct these imbalances and more importantly not judge it or let it get the best of me! It’s not just child’s pose, I feel the same thing with Pigeon pose (worse because it’s done on each leg).Child’s Pose is my constant reminder that these imbalances are natural, and that they exist to teach us something. And if I’m having a hard time with it, then my body really needs it. Plus I’m not going to grow in my practice if I only focus my energy on getter better at the poses I can already do well. My conditioned reflex for child’s pose is “Not this again, how about downward dog instead”? In gymnastics, it was the dreaded balance beam. In Soccer, it was shooting with the opposite leg (bad leg). In track, it was running the polo fields and hills at Iwo Jima (yep the famous DC Memorial has a healthy sized hill) every Tuesday and Thursday. And I can think of soooo many different real life imbalances. I notice that once I start settling into the pose, however, or those dreaded workouts or real life situations, it’s really not that bad. It's been over-hyped in my mind and in the end it’s what my body or mind really needed. The Child’s Pose isn’t going anywhere, just settle in and breathe and let it sink in without hype or judgement.