While it might appear as though Krista has passed out from too much water, she's actually created an alternative to Viparita Karani that is comfortable for her burgeoning belly.
Laying flat on her back puts too much pressure on her vena cava, and is also not the most comfortable in later stages of pregnancy. She rested for about 5 minutes before she switched and put her right leg up the wall.
We start these classes in what has become our Circle of Wisdom. After the usual opening poses, we gather and toss around themes and thoughts from the past week. No matter what the topic, we usually whittle it down to a persistant: Let's Take Care of Ourselves, first. Then we move into a related asana practice. The focus of today's restorative class was "making comfortable choices".
As important as it is to find and work at the edge of your capabilities during an active asana class, I think it's vital for us to allow for comfort during restorative yoga poses. Those reared in 'no pain, no gain' cultures often find it difficult to release the need to push and pull, equating effort with progress. Restorative classes are a perfect time to practice the art of letting go and to locate your body's comfort level while still paying attention to correct alignment. In essence, feeling good while doing good.
Everyone was encouraged to choose from a variety of poses that they would be able to hold for 10 minutes, but to also allow themselves to adjust for comfort. So Krista found a way to improve the circulation in her legs, safely and comfortably.
Image:Birth.com.au