Yoga Poses - Rocking Technique

When you start yoga postures for the first time then naturally you will begin with the simplest ones, then as your joints and muscles start to limber up you shall proceed to those that are more difficult to do. Don't allow yourself to be frightened or easily discouraged. Remember that these are not calisthenics, that you are not in competition with yourself or anyone else, and that none of the exercises should be forced. Be satisfied to make progress slowly. You will be amazed to discover how much your body will soon be able to do.

Rocking

Let us begin with the bracing Rocking exercise. This exercise helps overcome the drowsiness and stiffness that one so often feels on waking in the morning. As you do the Rocking exercise, you will also experience an agreeable, invigorating sensation due to the fact that your vertebrae are being given a good massage. This exercise will limber up your spine and keep it in a flexible and youthful condition. The yogis say that you can dodge old age as long as your spine remains elastic and strong. Rocking will also help you to sleep better and more soundly. I remember the effect it had on an officer in the British army, who had been suffering from insomnia. About a week after he started studying yoga, he burst into his class triumphantly announcing that he had slept the night through without any pills. He has probably slept like a baby ever since.
Rocking is actually a very simple exercise, and in a few days you will be able to do it without difficulty regardless of your age, stiffness, and even weight.

How To Rock

Sit down at the end of the exercise pad to make sure that your back will not hit the hard floor. Draw up your knees, and bend your head down. Put your hands under your knees. You can join your hands or not, whichever is easiest in the beginning. Now, keeping your spine rounded, swing back and forth, back and forth, in quick successive movements imitating the swinging motions of a rocking chair. Don't straighten your spine as you rock backward or you will find yourself lying flat on your back, unable to swing forward again. Don't try to do the rocking movement too slowly either, at least not in the beginning. Just imagine you are a rocking chair in motion, and enjoy the fun of it.

Here is another helpful hint: Straighten the knees just as you swing backward and then immediately bend them again as you swing forward. Don't pause after you have swung back but simply continue the to-and-fro movement. Otherwise you may get "stuck."