Smooth Out Life's Curves with Sphinx Pose

I'm a big believer in asking for help when you need it — whether it's from your husband, your co-workers, your friends, a therapist, or even a cleaning lady. But there's one person on this earth whose help you have to rely on first — and that's you. If you can't take time out of your busy day to give yourself some of the help you need, the people around you aren't going to be inspired to assist you either.

The good news is that supporting yourself doesn't have to be hard, or time-consuming, or tedious. This extremely easy restorative yoga pose does two things that anybody going through a stressful period needs (heck, we all need these things all the time):

• It helps your lower spine find its natural curve, which tends to get flattened out or even reversed when we're doing lots of sitting. The curves of your spine are there to distribute your weight more evenly and absorb shock – to support you. When you lose this curve, you also lose some of your ability to give yourself what you need when you need it.

• The pose opens your chest and melts your heart, which helps alleviate depression, low self-confidence, and a bleak outlook.

Here's how to do it: Sphinx Pose

• Lie on the floor on your belly

• Place your elbows on the floor directly under your shoulders so your chest comes off the floor

• Extend your forearms, palms, and fingers along the floor

• Untuck your toes and lay the tops of your feet on the floor. Feet are as wide as your hips and parallel to each other (not splayed out or turning inward).

• Without exerting too much effort, allow your chest, neck, and head to float up toward the ceiling while your forearms, pelvis, legs, and feet sink into the floor. Since you're holding the pose for a longish time, you want to find as much ease as possible. Let your bones support you so your muscles can effortlessly unfurl.

• Stay five minutes, allowing your breath to move naturally.

You could even do this pose while you're watching TV. It would still help your spine rediscover its natural curve and encourage your chest and heart to open. If that's the only way you'll actually try the pose, by all means, do it. But would it really be so painful to turn the TV off for five minutes and allow your mind to bask in the quiet? I'm just asking...