April is National Frog Month. Frogs are an important bellwether species for our planet — when frogs are healthy and abundant, an ecosystem is healthy. There a number of actions that both children and adults can do to help build awareness and improve the environment.

In honor of National Frog Month, I wanted to share one of my favorite yin yoga poses (second only to dragon pose for me). Here is more information about frog pose.

From Biff Mithoefer‘s The Yin Yoga Kit: The Practice of Quiet Power.

Frog (hold 3 to 5 minutes)

Contraindications

• Bad back: use support
• If there is any tingling in the fingers, take hands wider or extend one arm at a time

Getting into the Pose:

• From all fours, spread the knees as wide as possible and sit back to heels
• Arms can be at your side or stretched overhead
• Rest chin or forehead on floor

Modifications

• Can separate the feet as wide as the knees
• Hips can come up and forward if the stretch is too intense
• Support chest on bolster

Benefits:

• Stretches groin, hamstrings and back
• Aids digestion and eases cramps

Meridians & Organs Affected:

• Liver, kidney, spleen, urinary bladder

Joints Affected:

• Hips, lower back, shoulders

Chakras Affected:

• First (muladhara)
• Second (svadhistana)
• Third (manipura)

Coming Out:

• Come to child’s pose or slide forward onto belly, bringing legs together

Counterposes

• Child’s pose
• Apanasana

With joy,

Debra