How Does Supine Position Affect Health?
The term “supine position” is one you may come across when looking up or discussing various exercise movements or sleep positions. While it may sound complicated, supine simply means “lying on the back or with the face upward,” like when you lie in bed on your back and look up at the ceiling.
Supine position in exercise practices
It’s common to be in the supine position when doing exercises for yoga and Pilates or various breathing and relaxation exercises.
Dr. Monisha Bhanote, MD, FASCP, FCAP, triple board-certified physician and Yoga Medicine instructor, says there are a number of yoga poses that may include the supine position, including but not limited to:
Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)
Reclined Twist (Supta Matsyendrasana)
Fish Pose
Reclined Butterfly (Supta Baddha Konasana)
Reclined Pigeon
Happy Baby
Supine Extended Mountain Pose (Supta Utthita Tadasana)
Savasana
When practicing these positions, you can always modify by using blocks, bolsters, or blankets for comfort.