Paripurna Navasana

(Full or Balancing Boat Pose)

(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)
paripurna = full, entire, complete
nava = boat

An abdominal and deep hip flexor strengthener, Boat Pose requires you to balance on the tripod of your sitting bones and tailbone.

Benefits
Strengthens the abdomen, hip flexors, and spine. Stimulates the kidneys, thyroid and prostate glands, and intestines. Helps relieve stress and improves digestion.

Deepen the Pose
Full Boat is often presented as an abdominal strengthener, which it is to a certain extent. But more importantly this pose strengthens the deep hip flexors that attach the inner thigh bones to the front of the spine. Learn to anchor the heads of the thighs bones deep in the pelvis and lift from that anchor through the front spine. Remember that the lower front belly should never get hard. Bring the tips of your big toes in line with your eyes