The Squat Pose in Yin Yoga

The Squat Pose, or Malasana is a challenging pose that opens the hips, knees and ankles. Western men often find this pose less accessible than women. Around the world this pose is used with ease, in the fields and in restrooms. Maybe our western civilization is missing something? 

"...Contentment with what we have, a sense that what is, is 'enough.' We don't need anything more and so we are content. When we experience contentment we have softened our bodies, minds, and hearts so that we are able to release the unconscious resistances we hold to our own experience." ~ Christine Valters Paintner

Practicing Yin Yoga invites you to be content enough to relax and soften into the experience, instead of efforting too much. This may be difficult in this particular pose, but noticing where you can modify a bit here and there should make this pose more accessible to you.

The Squat Pose is a very grounding pose, energizing your core, your hips, knees and ankles, for a 2nd chakra renewing experience.

Setting Up the Squat Pose

To set up the pose, come to standing position, with your feet hip-width apart. Squat down and place your hands on the ground. Assess your knees. If they hurt, or if you have knee problems, avoid this pose altogether. 

Now bring your hands to the front of your chest and into the prayer position as shown. Apply gentle pressure from your elbows into your knees to solidify and ground the pose. If this maneuver is too intense for your hips, just relax your elbows on the front of your knees.

The Squat

If when squatting, your heels cannot touch the ground, place a rolled up mat or blanket under your heels. You may also play with the position of your legs, widen or narrow them to see if this feels more comfortable.

You may also try to do this pose up against a wall for more support if needed. 

Some like to turn the feet out, and others like to keep the toes pointing forward, depending how their hips feel in the pose. I am most comfortable with my feet at a 45 degree angle as shown in both photos. Find your own feet/hip position that is most comfortable to you. 

The key to the Squat Pose is indeed to soften your body, and relax and release into this pose for its full effects. As you hold the pose, the sensation of your hips sinking closer the ground should be felt.

As your hips sink, perhaps your chest will rise. Notice the subtle shifting of your body as it releases and you adjust your balance to hold a place of contentment. Breathing and noticing is a healing contemplative and meditative practice for all.

Once you have settled into the Pose for 2-3 minutes, breathing deeply down and into your belly, you may chose to do a twist here.

Take your left hand and place it on the ground in front of your left foot. With your left elbow pushing firmly into the inside of your knee, twist your torso to the right, as you raise your right arm, reaching for the sky as shown, below. 

Squat Twist

Hold this twist for 10 breaths, or a minute or so. With each inhale try to twist just a millimeter more.

Untwist, and repeat on the other side. 

This pose feels particular nice when you actively stand back up from the squat, then immediately go into the Dangling Pose. 

A nice grounding, 2nd Chakra energy stimulation sequence, that opens the hips, ankles, knees and lower back would be the following:

• Dangling Pose for 2-3 minutes
• Squat for 2-3 minutes
• Dangling Pose for 2 minutes
• Squat Twist Pose to the Left for 2 minutes, then Untwist
• Dangling Pose for 2 minutes
• Squat Twist Pose to the Right for 2 minutes, then Untwist
• Dangling Pose for 2-3 minutes

As you do the above sequence, place your hands on the ground between poses and adjust the position of your feet and legs as needed when you switch. 

May you always release any unconscious resistances that you may have when you practice the Squat Pose to you heal your own body-mind-soul. May you always strive to be content when you soften your body, mind and heart!

Want a handy reference, over 125 pages of all 36 of my Yin Yoga poses in a complete eBook? If you wish to stay healthy, or have a targeted area for healing, there is nothing like "The Quiet Practice of Yin Yoga" to heal your body, mind and soul! Click here to learn more!

OR, if you are ready to purchase click below:

 

Only 5.95 USD

Don't worry - I use PayPal,  but it allows payment with a credit card. It also converts your currency automatically - see the price in your currency by clicking here.

More Yin Yoga Poses for You to Try:

Dangling in the Forward Fold Pose

Cat Pulling Its Tail Pose

Raised Feet Pose with Peace Fingers

Happy Baby or the Stirrup Pose

---

Support This Website and Its Mission

Thank you so much for considering a donation to help support this website. I appreciate your thank-you for access to so much free information. If you feel you have been blessed by this website, thank-you for your donation! I promise, that I will continue to provide you with lots of information and pay it forward to all in whatever way I can!

---

© Copyright 2009-2024, by Elle Bieling, BodyWindow.com

All Rights Reserved

We also hereby confirm, as stated in our Privacy Policy, that we do not sell personal information of any kind. 

Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker ~ Do not copy content from this page. 

---

Information on this website is not intended for medical advice. See your health care provider for any health concerns. By using this website and/or practicing any yoga postures, foam rolling exercises or other physical movements contained herein, you are agreeing that you are in good health, cleared by your healthcare professional to participate in physical activities and you release The Body Window from any liability involved in the practice.