Logic told me, given my thighs had swelled with what felt like 90% of my total blood, that tipping upside down would help redistribute my body mass.<\/p>\n
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Having recently spotted strength and mobility coach Charlotte Hazelwood swear by this inverted maneuver<\/a>, I dug deeper and it turns out I was onto something.<\/p>\n Hazelwood describes this move as her \u201clazy girl central nervous system reset\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like a boss babe secret weapon to bounce back, reset and actually thrive,\u201d she writes in the caption.<\/p>\n There\u2019s science behind it, too. One 2024 review of research<\/a> assessing the therapeutic role of yoga for people with hypertension found the legs-up-the-wall pose (viparita karani in Sanskrit) effective at boosting circulation without elevating blood pressure.<\/p>\n \u201cIn viparita karani (yoga inversion pose), supported legs up the wall position can give inversion benefits of lymphatic drainage and improved venous return from the lower extremities without adding the risk of increased BP [blood pressure],\u201d researchers noted.<\/p>\n Venous return, in this instance, involves the flow of deoxygenated blood from the legs back to the heart. It can help reduce swelling, boost circulation and promote relaxation.<\/p>\n \u201cImproved circulation accelerates recovery, and employing the legs-up-the-wall pose will help create a positive circular flow of blood back to your core,\u201d agrees Alex Quinn, head of Reformer at London fitness studio Milo and the Bull<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s especially effective at helping clear lactic acid that can build up during exercise. This waste product can take time to leave your body, but being in an inverted position helps it drain faster, ultimately aiding your bounce back and shortening your recovery time.\u201d<\/p>\n The benefit of this pose over other yoga inversions is that the heart and head remain at the same level.<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s best to consult a healthcare professional if you have hypertension or ocular conditions that could be aggravated by increased blood flow to your heart or head.<\/p>\n How to do the legs-up-the-wall pose<\/p>\n Legs Up The Wall – Foundations of Yoga – YouTube
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