Begin on the ground in a supine position, with the knees bent and the feet down. The head should be 1 or 2 feet away from the trunk. Bring the knees into the chest. Come back to this knees-to-chest position in between each side. Keep the left leg hugged in as you fully extend the right leg out — relaxing it onto the ground. Use the right hand to gently guide the left leg across the body. Next, extend the left arm out to the left. Relax the body as much as possible, and stay here for several breaths. Come back to center for knees-to-chest pose, and then do the same thing on the other side. The right leg is hugged in, while the left leg is extended out. You take the right leg across the body with the left hand, and extend the right arm out to the right.

This is one of the only poses in Yoga where you do not want any muscles engaged at all. In nearly every other pose, some muscle tension is typically involved — even in static stretches. However, in this pose, let it all go. Relax every part of the body, including the face. I like to end most of my classes and flows with this reclined twist.