Cobbler’s pose is an excellent pose for stretching your inner thighs, improving the range of motion of your hip joints and, in the forward fold variations, for stretching your back muscles. You can use it to prepare for more advanced seated poses that require openness of the hips, such as Lotus (Padmasana) and Half Lotus (Arda Padmasa), as well as for standing poses that need good inner thigh length, such as Warrior 2 pose (Virabradhrasana 2) and Extended Side Angle pose (Utthita Parsvokanasana). Cobbler's pose works well as counter-pose for Hero pose (Virasana) and most symmetrical backbends, as it takes your thighbones in the opposite direction. It can also strengthen the back muscles in those who tend be slouchers!
I prescribe this pose for:
- Tight hips
- Tight inner thighs (adductor muscles)
- Stiff knees (a good alternative for Hero pose, as Cobbler’s pose is non-weight bearing)
- Improving poor posture
- Quieting the nervous system
- Pregnant women (makes room for the belly in later stages)
1. Classic Pose
Next, create an internal lift from your sitting bones through you spine and up towards the crown of your head. If your spine lengthens easily and you don’t sense any rounding of your lower back, then this version is good for you. Finally, create length from your inner groin crease along an imaginary inseam to the inner knees. Maintain the spinal lift and the inner thigh length throughout the pose. Stay in the pose for 1-2 minutes initially, gradually working up to longer holds. To come out of the pose, use your hands to bring your bent knees up to center, and then release your legs out in front of you into Staff pose (Dandasana). Or, simple move back into Seated Crossed Legs pose (Sukasana).
2. Propping Hips and/or Knees
- a thin, folded blanket
- a double-folded blanket to provide a higher lift
- the low height of a block, if you prefer a firmer surface=
- a bolster if that feels best
To prop your knees, choose props, whether folded blankets or blocks, that are high enough to allow your knees to rest easily onto them. Propping this way can in and of itself release held tension around your hips.
The other actions and timing are the same as in the Classic version.
3. Back Support
Start by sitting in Seated Crossed Legs pose with your back near a wall, and then scoot your buttocks as close to the wall as you can, leaning slightly forward from the hips. Then, roll your spine up to touch the wall and bring your legs into Cobbler’s pose as in the classic version. Ideally, you will feel the middle and upper back contacting the wall with a small space between your lower back and the wall. If you need to, you can prop your hips and knees as in version 2.
The other actions and timing are the same as in the Classic version.
4. Cobbler’s Forward Bend
This version (sorry, no photo!) creates more stretch and openness in your hip joints and the spinal muscles of your back.
Start by coming into Cobbler’s pose as in any of the first three versions. Hold onto your ankles or your feet, whichever is easier (this may depend on your arm length). Next, begin to fold forward, initially tipping from your hips until you feel the pelvis stops rolling forward. From there, mindfully let your spine gently round forward without pulling your spine down with your arms.
Once you arrive at a place where you feel stretch sensations around your hips, buttocks, hamstrings and/or lower back, stay in that position for 30 seconds or so before slowly coming back up to sitting upright. Gradually work you way up to 90-second holds to create longer lasting stretch to these areas. If you experience knee or back pain in the pose, come out immediately and have your local teacher check your set up.
To come out of the pose, first come up out of the forward bend and then move into Staff pose or Seated Crossed Legs pose as instructed above.Subscribe to Yoga for Healthy Aging by Email ° Follow Yoga for Healthy Aging on Facebook ° Join this site with Google Friend Connect