Balasana and Knee Problems

I have a new student who has had knee surgery a few years ago, because of an accident. What suggestion is there for the child's pose? It's an excellent follow up/counter balance after doing the cobra or sphinx!

ANSWERS:

From Lisa Powers:

In Balasana, try having the student come onto their back and with hands behind thighs up by their knees, draw the thighs toward their torso. The knees can bend as much as is comfortable

The other option is propping Balasana as you learned in YTT, to decrease the amount of flexion in the knee.

From Patti Milliron:

Balasana can be easier for those people with knee and shoulder challenges by doing the following:

Use an asana (pillow) that is flexible (filled with buckwheat hulls) for under the knees, add a folded blanket (or two) to the back of the leg at knee joint, and one under the chest and/or forehead, OR...

Once again, turn to the chair. Have the student sit on one chair and lean forward unto the seat of another chair in front of them. They can cross their forearms under their forehead and also use a folded blanket on the chair in front of them for more comfort. They can also do extended child's pose by placing hands on the edge of the seat in front of them and pressing back to get more opening in the shoulders, low back and pelvis.

From Bliss Wood, grad. 1999:

Child Pose props: Have your student fold a blanket and place it between his/her calves and hamstrings.....so they are sitting on the blanket. This will take some of the angle and pressure off the knees. Also, try using a block or cushion under the forehead to lift the head off the floor, thus reducing the pressure the upper body puts on the legs.

From Gerry Swan:

Regarding the child's pose, I have students who, for various reasons, cannot go into the full forward bend required in child's pose. Can your student bend her knees? If yes, can the student's knee bend to 90 degrees (like in a prayer position)? If yes, then could you arrange for a chair seat, or bench, that the student could bend forward and rest her/his arms and head on the chair/bench seat.

From Lisa Macy:

Instead of child as a counter pose for people with knee problems, I've had folks sit in a cross-legged position (depending on how bad the knee is they may need to keep that leg extended straight out, not bent). Then, hinge from the hips, extend their arms out long in front of them along the floor. Like the picture in our training manual that showed Yoga Mudra, only arms stretch out directly in front of the body on the floor, not behind. Or, padahastasana is a HEAVENLY counter pose to cobra/sphinx for me.

From Becca Pronchick:

You might suggest that the student with knee challenges do the child's pose sitting in a chair with their forearms resting on the back of another chair. Then putting their forehead down on the folded arms.

From Genevieve Ryder:

For your student with knee surgery, you might try apanasana which is essentially child pose upside down. The student can then adjust the knee bending to his/her comfort and avoid pressure on it.

Love & light, Jen